Operating revenue from aeronautical and nonaeronautical activities at U.S. airports has been increasing steadily from fiscal year 2000 to 2006, according to information from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Compliance Activity Tracking System database. Fiscal year 2002 was the only year showing a revenue drop, mostly likely because of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
From 2004 to 2006, the nonaeronautical revenue increase was larger than that of aeronautical. Large and nonhub airports saw more nonaerornautical revenue, though the opposite was true for medium and small-hub airports.
Revenue from land and nonterminal facilities showed a decrease from 2000 to 2006. Parking reflected the highest increase in nonaeronautical revenue – 41% in 2006 – followed by rental cars at 20%, and terminal at 19%. Parking revenue has increased steadily from 2002 to 2006, generating the highest revenue for medium-hub airports.
Large-hub airports generated more revenue from terminal facilities than smaller airports did, and small-hub airports received more revenue from land rentals, nonterminal facilities and rental cars.
