The City of St. Louis released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for potential private operators of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport (the Airport). Release of the RFQ marks a key step in the City’s exploration of opportunities under the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Investment Partnership Program (AIPP).The RFQ follows the City’s agreement to a preliminary framework with the major air carriers operating at the Airport.
“This preliminary framework is a representation of all stakeholders and their quest to better understand the implications of a privately-operated airport,” said Mayor of St. Louis, Lyda Krewson. “As we work through the various steps laid out under the AIPP program, we will be able to understand the potential impact to the City of St. Louis, the airlines’ partnership, and ensuring our airport remains one of the best operated in the nation.”
Airlines representing over eighty percent (80 percent) of the airport’s traffic and eighty-five percent (85 percent) of the airport’s weighted cargo have agreed to the preliminary framework, which enables the City to move forward with the next phase of the process; however, the preliminary agreement does not commit the City or airlines to ultimately move forward with a transaction.
“Having reached this point, we’re now able to proceed to the next stage of evaluating this potential opportunity to enhance our largest asset while at the same time securing significant new funds for the City,” said Airport Working Group Chair and City Budget Director Paul Payne.
