The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) has released Development at U.S. Airports: A Summary Look at Future Trends and Opportunities, a report providing key trends and types of projects that airports across the U.S. will be undertaking in the next five years.
The summary provides a high-level overview of airport development trends. Based on research of U.S. airport capital development projects over the next half decade through 2021, the study highlights trends in types of projects, likely procurement models and funding, and associated consulting services required by airports. Priorities by project category are highlighted, along with a summary of the largest development projects expected over the next five years.
“ACC’s core mission is to inform its members of opportunities and trends in the marketplace, and we are pleased to provide the industry an overview of airport development trends over the next five years,” said ACC President T.J. Schulz. “This report should provide companies a general understanding of the types of projects airports will be undertaking here in the U.S., and how they will be delivered.”
ACC commissioned Arup, the global design and consulting firm, to develop the report. Along with a summary overview of airport infrastructure trends, the report includes a separate, detailed spreadsheet of the majority of Large and Medium Hub development projects across the country. The spreadsheet is available for free to ACC members on the ACC website and to non-members for a fee.
“Our study confirmed more than $70 billion of U.S. airport development investment over the next half decade,” said Mark Ahasic, Associate and Senior Aviation Consultant at Arup. “With this research, ACC members and those involved in the U.S. airport development industry have access to real data that can drive strategy.”
Among the key findings of the report are:
The greatest investment will be in terminals: new, expanded, and renovated, with the primary objective being capacity enhancement.
Airfield pavement projects are ubiquitous but do not represent the largest investment category. Most are rehabilitative in nature, with few new runway projects planned.
Design-Build and Construction Manager at Risk models are gaining popularity among airport sponsors, particularly for larger, complex projects.
Public Private Partnerships (P3) for components of U.S. airports continue to increase in frequency, while airport-wide P3s continue to be rare.
Projects at GA airports tend towards upgrades of existing facilities and State of Good Repair (SOGR) initiatives
To download a copy of the report, please visit the ACC website by clicking here.
