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General Aviation Airports: A National Asset
by Brad McAllister - Wednesday May 16, 2012
The 18-month study breaks down GA airports into four primary categories based on the current aviation activity at a particular airport, such as the number and type of based aircraft, number of passenger boardings, and the type of flights: National airports give communities access to national and international markets. Regional airports connect communities to statewide and interstate markets. Local airports provide access to intrastate and interstate markets. Basic airports link communities with the national airport system and support general aviation activities. "We have a good handle on how we classify commercial airports … we can plan and invest dollars based on the classification system," say FAA officials. "We don’t... -
At The Annual AAAE Conference In Phoenix, US Airways Presents
by Brad McAllister - Wednesday May 2, 2012
At the 84th Annual AAAE (American Association for Airport Executives) Conference & Exposition, US Airways president Scott Kirby points to a number of trends that have shaped the airline industry during the last decade. He says bankruptcies have forced airlines to restructure, and the industry is on the threshold of completing the vision that it would consolidate into three large network carriers, and that they would be part of three global alliances. Consolidation has helped rationalize the industry, and ancillary revenues have been an important part of the changing business model, says Kirby. He explains that US Airways generated some $500 million last year, and made a profit a little more than $100 million. “In 2011, fuel prices... -
In preparing for an upcoming annual airport event in Denver ...
by Brad McAllister - Wednesday April 18, 2012
airport business Magazine developed a cover story on the concept focus of the Airport Cities Conference held in Memphis last year. This year we travel to Denver for the world conference and exhibition. Some elements of the program I look forward to include: 1. An opening address by conference chairman John D. Kosarda, the man who coined the term “aerotropolis”. In last year's cover story, 'Airports Becoming Cities' , airport business interviewed Kosarda, who says the aerotropolis concept brings with it a change in thinking on the role of the airport. “Airport master planning itself must change,” he says. “Basically, airports must do business the way business does business.” 2. The 'Airport Cities Rising... -
ACI-NA Releases A Study On The Collective Economic Impact Of Commercial Airports ...
by Brad McAllister - Wednesday April 4, 2012
The association conducted a similar study in 2001 (Visit www.airportsforthefuture.org to view the 2012 study). Comments assocation president Greg Principato, "In a decade with 9/11, and the worst economic downturn since the depression, you still see growth. Transportation is a driver of economic activity, and economic activity drives transportation. "This kind of study really hits you where you live; it really tells the story in a vivid way." Around the world where communities are building and modernizing airport infrastructure, the mechanism that’s used is a passenger-based user fee, which is essentially what the passenger facility charge (PFC) is here in America. In most of those places, you don’t have a lot of tax money... -
Commercial Airports In Texas Form An Association ...
by Brad McAllister - Wednesday March 28, 2012
In an effort to share information more efficiently and to take common issues to Washington with a single voice, commercial airports in Texas have developed a statewide association: the Texas Commercial Airports Association, or TCAA. In a recent press release, Mario Diaz, director of the Houston Airport System and TCAA chairman states, "By coming together as an organization, the passenger airports in Texas can speak through one clear, strong voice. Collectively, we believe we have greater influence than any one of our airports can have individually." According to the news report, Texas airports with commercial flights serve more than 135 million passengers annually. A news conference held in San Antonio brought a key audience together as...
