Image courtesy of Houston Airport System
Airports are spending billions of dollars on facility upgrades, enhanced security, new equipment, passenger perks and expansion in general. It’s difficult to find an airport anywhere in the United States that is not involved in renovation, construction or an expansion planning process. One might wonder why.
The United States is the world’s largest aviation market and the growth being experienced currently is historic. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that passengers using American airports will increase by 90 percent in less than 19 years. When the growth being experienced in commercial and freight operations is also factored into that projection, reasons for the expansions are obvious.
In each of the top five airport construction projects last year, more than a billion dollars was spent or obligated through contract awards. The CAPA Centre for Aviation reports that as of January, 485 airport projects were planned or under way in North America. Texas is in the forefront of the activity.
The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport will undergo a $2.3 billion project that will include terminal and taxiway renovations and possibly an additional sixth terminal. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport has announced plans to develop a new $1.4 billion replacement terminal and taxiway. Officials at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport recently approved construction of a 1.6 million-square-foot consolidated rental car operation in a parking garage that will also feature 900 new parking spaces. The $150 million project is a public-private partnership (P3) between the City of Austin Aviation Department and car rental companies.
Similarly, the City Council in San Antonio has given its approval for construction of a 1.5 million-square-foot, $163 million complex that will be the new home for car rental companies operating at the San Antonio International Airport. The new seven-story facility will also provide two floors of short-term customer parking.
Millions more will be spent at smaller, general aviation airports nationwide. Contracting opportunities at Texas airports are more than abundant.
The Texas Department of Transportation awards federal and state funding to general aviation airports for capital improvement projects. While the funding is usually for smaller projects, it creates even more opportunities for private-sector contractors. Approximately $17.6 million was recently awarded. Projects named include $2.03 million for pavement improvements at the Addison Airport, $1.095 million to the Cleveland Municipal Airport for pavement and drainage improvements, $2.2 million to the Commerce Municipal Airport for pavement and lighting improvements and $85,000 to Panola County’s Sharpe Field for engineering and design work.
Much larger contracting opportunities are also available in other areas of the country. LaGuardia Airport in New York is undergoing a $3.9 billion redesign and rebuilding of its Central Terminal Building. At the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, a $1 billion runway is part of a new 20-year master plan. An ongoing construction program of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority will soon be advertising for bids on a variety of construction projects at Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. Individual projects are valued at from $300,000 to $60 million.
Denver International Airport is building a hotel and transit center that includes a commuter rail station and a public plaza. In Utah, the Salt Lake City International Airport has a $1.8 billion reconstruction project under way, and the spending will be spread over a 10-year period.
This type of activity is expected to continue at airports nationwide. That’s good news for companies that provide services related to construction, renovation, security, retail development and technology.
Want to know how to win funding for an upcoming airport project? Call one of our procurement experts to guide you through the government procurement process!