Airports are a fundamental part of our nation’s infrastructure. America’s airports generate more than $1.1 trillion in annual activity and support nearly 10 million jobs. But, America’s airports have almost $100 billion in infrastructure projects that must be undertaken to help airports maintain their leadership in the global aviation system.
Over the last few months, ACI-NA and others have turned up the volume on our significant infrastructure needs as Congress considers several key pieces of legislation that could help ensure a modern and competitive airport industry. ACI-NA’s mission is to advocate for policies that strengthen the ability of airports to serve their passengers and communities. We do that important work by bringing our airport members to the table and amplifying their voices so the industry can be heard on Capitol Hill.
As a member driven organization, we know that the airport industry is its own best advocate. And the industry’s unified position is helping to achieve real results.
One thing we have continually heard from policy makers comes back to the industry’s ability to articulate its real needs. To assist in that effort, we released our latest airport infrastructure needs study earlier this year, which noted nearly $20 billion annually in airport infrastructure needs to renovate tired terminals and runways, relieve congestion and delays, improve safety and security, and spur new airline competition that will lower airfares for passengers. The policy solution to addressing these infrastructure needs is letting airports of all sizes make their own investment decisions by eliminating the outdated cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and maintaining a strong Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Our airport members continue to play a vital role in helping us communicate the stories and challenges of airports to key congressional stakeholders on Capitol Hill.
The importance of this work could not be more timely. In the U.S. House of Representatives, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster has put forward his FAA reauthorization proposal. Known as the 21st Century Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization Act (21st Century AIRR Act), the proposal focuses mainly on privatizing air traffic control.
Unfortunately, Chairman Shuster’s proposal doesn’t do anything to solve our airport infrastructure challenges, and that’s why ACI-NA has opposed it. Airports have documented infrastructure needs and the future of our aviation system requires modernization in the air and on the ground. The 21st Century AIRR Act misses a significant opportunity to tackle the real challenge of aging airport infrastructure and advance all airports' ability to serve their passengers and communities.
In the U.S. Senate, Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune has introduced his own FAA reauthorization proposal, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. While this bill includes more airport priorities than its House counterpart, it misses a significant opportunity to provide sustainable, long-term funding options that address the infrastructure needs of airports. We remain committed to working with the Senate leaders to ensure airport funding priorities are part of any long term FAA reauthorization bill.
While these FAA proposals are not likely to move forward in the coming weeks, our fight is far from over. In a major victory for airports, the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Act would raise the PFC user fee cap to $8.50 and increase funding for the AIP. This is the first bill that puts real action behind the infrastructure rhetoric by providing sustainable funding streams to help airports of all sizes upgrade their facilities, attract new air service, and improve the passenger experience.
While only time will tell how these bills play out in Congress, ACI-NA remains optimistic. With the leadership of our airport members, we have made tremendous strides in getting Congress as a whole to listen to airports of all sizes as they advocate for sustainable funding to meet critical infrastructure needs. However, we have much more work ahead of us. We encourage you to take a moment to communicate your airport’s story to your congressional representatives. Your leadership will help us advance our collective mission to advance airport priorities that are so important to strengthening America’s airports.
Kevin M. Burke, is President and CEO of Airports Council International – North America.
