American Airports Need $99.9 Billion In The Next 5 Years

Airports generate revenue for capital improvements and maintenance of about $10 billion per year from passenger facility charges, but will need twice that amount to handle increased passenger and cargo traffic in 2017 through 2021, according to a report by Airports Council International – North America released March 7. The report estimates $62.9 billion needed for new infrastructure construction, and $37.0 billion for maintenance of existing facilities.

Airline companies and airport operators have been lobbying for removal of the federal statutory cap on user fees, but President Trump has told them: “The problem is, I don’t like raising fees or taxes – I’ll be honest.” In testimony before the Senate transportation appropriations subcommittee March 8, American Association of Airport Executives CEO Todd Hauptli testified in favor of removing the legal limit. “This is the single biggest bang for the infrastructure buck with the least impact on the federal budget,” he said.