The Air Transport Association (ATA) is predicting a “modest” increase in the number of passengers that will take to the sky this summer. Between June 1 and Aug. 31, the ATA has forecasted that about 202 million passengers will travel globally on U.S. airlines—about 1 percent more than the 2009 summer travel season.
Although the increase is slight, airports are looking forward to the increase in passenger traffic. Some airports are rolling out some new programs and initiatives:
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport will have newly expanded ticket counters, security check-in, consolidated rental car facility, and expanded baggage claim carousels.
- Oakland International Airport has also launched the new Premier Parking product which allows customers to park within “footsteps to their flight” and pick up a complimentary bottle of water and a newspaper as they head into the terminal or pick up their car coming home.
- In mid-summer Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will unveil a new digital concierge program, enabling travelers to search for and obtain information specific to their needs at the airport.
- Mineta San José International Airport will have all new concessions with its modernization program, and most will be in place, up and running, by the end of June with 40 new shops and restaurants in Terminals A and B.
Other airports have been working steadily during the economic downturn to be ready when growth returns, performing needed facility maintenance or rehabilitation, or other projects that enhance safety. Why? The need for new airport infrastructure to meet the demands of future air traffic is substantial. There are also a number of airports that desperately need to modernize and repair aging infrastructure to ensure passenger safety and customer service.
This is why it is so important to have critical financial tools in place, such as an increase in the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap. Airport infrastructure investments will be challenged to continue without raising the cap to $7. Due in large part to the devaluation of the PFC because of construction cost inflation, the current $4.50 level doesn’t allow airports the financial resources necessary to invest in improvements that ultimately benefit the traveling public. The modest PFC increase is included in the House FAA Reauthorization bill and an increase in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding is included in both the House- and Senate-passed bills.
It is important to remember that these resources are also important to enable the FAA to modernize the nation’s air traffic control system and make airfield capacity-enhancements at airports.
While ATA’s predictions are for small growth in the short term, FAA and industry consultants do expect more robust increases as the economy recovers. Airports know that they have their work cut out for them; but if provided the necessary resources, they will be able to provide the safety, capacity and efficiency improvements that passengers will demand.