Small airports across the United States are missing out on billions of dollars of economic impact due to simple mismanagement, as revealed by recent research from the University of Florida. This study found that around 54% of the nearly 5,000 publicly owned airports are underperforming, costing local economies an average of $20 million annually. But with the right management tools, these airports could become vital economic engines for their communities.
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The Problem: Mismanagement Costs Small Airports Billions
The research shows that many small airports are struggling due to outdated management structures and practices. Traditional management models, especially those where airport operations are bundled into broader municipal departments, often lead to poor performance. These “multi-function” structures make it difficult for airports to meet customer needs effectively, resulting in underwhelming economic returns.
In contrast, airports run by independent authorities, or “single-function” structures, generate economic returns up to twenty times greater than their counterparts. Even after accounting for various factors, the average single-function airport outperformed multi-function airports by more than 60%, raising their economic impact from about $30 million to over $50 million annually.
The Solution: ObjectAviation’s All-in-One Airport Operating System
- Complete Airport Management on Your Smartphone: ObjectAviation turns your smartphone into a powerful tool for managing all aspects of your airport operations. From flight scheduling to fee collection, the entire process becomes streamlined and efficient.
- Enhanced Self-Service Capabilities: ObjectAviation enables pilots to self-register flight plans, inform the airport of their schedules, and pay for services directly through the app.
- Real-Time Tracking and Communication: ObjectAviation offers daily and weekly flight views and real-time tracking information, enabling airport operators to plan and manage resources effectively.
- Streamlined Payments and Receipts: ObjectAviation integrates with Stripe to process all transactions securely via credit card, with automatic receipts sent to pilots.
Turning Missed Opportunities into Success Stories
The research underscores the importance of moving away from government-managed, multi-functional models to a more focused, customer-oriented approach. ObjectAviation embodies this philosophy by giving airports a dedicated platform to optimize operations and improve their economic impact.
“With the right tools, small airports can avoid becoming economic ghost towns and instead serve as dynamic hubs for growth, job creation, and community development.”
By adopting ObjectAviation, general aviation airports can start reversing the trends of underperformance and unlock their true potential.