Despite the continuing uncertainty regarding a long-term federal aviation bill, airport construction programs, especially at the large hubs, are resurging in the U.S. Now flush with profits thanks to burgeoning passenger traffic and low fuel costs, airlines are more willing to contribute to airport infrastructure investments.
“We’ve fully emerged from the recession,” says Christopher Oswald, vice president of safety and regulatory affairs for Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA). “Air-carrier consolidation has largely played out. From an air service standpoint, we’re at a reasonably stable point in the industry.”