With the airlines cutting back capacity and flights across the United States, airports across the country are taking a hard look at improvement projects they have slated for the upcoming year.
Travel Weekly reports that, according to the American Association of Airport Executives, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, one of the busiest in the nation, is cutting $225 million from its capital program and considering $50 million in further capital cuts.
Metro Oakland Airport in California has postponed plans for a new $500 million terminal due to the loss of several airlines.
Phoenix Sky Harbor has had to defer taxiway and facility improvements because of a drop of 8.8 percent in the number of airline seats flying in and out of its terminals. As a result, its operating budget is being cut by $8 million.
Los Angeles World Airports, which operates LAX, Van Nuys, Ontario and Palmdale, said that it is pushing back a few of its long term projects. Ontario airport is seeing a 20 percent drop in passenger traffic, especially with the loss of ExpressJet.
Dallas-Fort Worth Airport is looking at its expansion plan because of a 7 percent drop in passenger traffic and Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport has had its funding for improvements cut from $3.7 billion down to $360 million.
With revenue falling at airports across the nation, they may end up increasing or adding fees to airlines and rental car companies to stay open. No doubt those fees will be passed on to the consumer.
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Of course if you ask Bush how the economy is doing, he’ll tell you it’s just in a bit of a “rough spot”. Charming