Airports across the United States need $75.7 billion over the next five years to keep up with infrastructure enhancement needs, according to a report released this week by Airports Council International-North America.
Commercial airports account for $62.2 billion, or 82.1 percent, of the needs. Large hubs need $40.1 billion, or 52.9 percent, of the $75.7 billion total, according to ACI-NA.
Medium hubs account for $9.1 billion, or 12 percent of the total pie; small hubs and non-hubs need a total of $13 billion, or 17.2 percent.
“The clear takeaway from our latest survey on airport infrastructure needs is that the U.S. must move beyond the status quo and comprehensively modernize how we make these essential investments,” says Kevin Burke, president and CEO of ACI-NA. “As the U.S. economy continues to gain strength and air travel rebounds, we must guarantee to passengers and cargo shippers that we can continue to meet increases in demand with safe, secure and efficient facilities that keep pace with our global competition.”
“ACI-NA’s Airport Capital Development Needs: 2015-2019” report details the scope of the infrastructure projects industry officials reported as necessary and details which among them are not eligible for Airport Improvement Program grant funding.
ACI-NA and the American Association of Airport Executives have been working together to form a coalition of organizations that will lobby this year for an increase in the passenger facility charge from $4.50 to $8.50 and for an overhaul of how the industry is funded as part of a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill.
“Across all hub sizes, airports have planned projects essential to respond to increasing demand, airline hub consolidation, and fulfilling federal mandates and passenger expectations,” Burke says. “Modernizing the PFC and strengthening AIP will allow airports to successfully address these infrastructure challenges in a timely, cost-effective manner that benefits the whole of the aviation industry.”
