Sponsored Listings:
St. Louis Lambert has received preliminary approval to become the second airport accepted into the FAA’s Airport Privatization Pilot Program, Department of Transportation secretary Elaine Chao said.
Under the program, publicly owned commercial airports can be leased to private companies, which would run them. Its intent is to offer airports a way to generate broader access to the private capital needed for renovations and improvements.
St. Louis applied for acceptance to the Airport Privatization Pilot Program in March under then-mayor Francis Slay, a Democrat. New mayor Lyda Krewson, who was inaugurated last week, offered an upbeat but noncommittal statement Monday in response to the FAA approval.
“This is a great opportunity to explore a public-private partnership for the airport,” said Krewson, who is also a Democrat. “I appreciate their consideration of our application and look forward to working with the FAA throughout the process, but as always, the key is in the details.”
Lambert served 14 million passengers in 2016. Southwest is the leading carrier there, carrying 56% of passengers and offering as many as 103 daily departures to 43 destinations.
Lambert would join San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin Airport in the privatization pilot program. The Puerto Rican airport received final approval to join the program in February 2013, the DOT said, and since then its private operator Aerostar has made capital expenditures of $176.2 million. Among the projects undertaken so far are rehabilitations of terminals B and C and the installation of a new baggage-handling system.
“San Juan is an excellent example of the airport operator, airlines and the federal government working together to improve the operation of the airport,” the DOT said.
The Airport Privatization Pilot Program was put in place in 2016. Up to 10 airports can participate.
The preliminary acceptance of Lambert into the program comes as Airports Council International-North America says U.S. airports will need $100 billion in infrastructure upgrades over the next five years.
Sоurсе: travelweekly.com
