US. Total non-aeronautical operating revenue at US commercial service airports reached US$7.49 billion in 2008, a +6.4% increase year-on-year, according to an analysis by Airports Council International-North America released today.
The data from the FAA Compliance Activity Tracking System (CATS) database includes concession revenue from 521 airports, representing 100% of total passenger traffic.
“With passenger traffic continuing to decline in this challenging economy, airport concessions have become a critical component to increase non-aeronautical revenue,” said ACI-NA Chief Financial Officer Brett McAllister.
“Airports have designed creative and innovative concession programmes to serve passengers at a time when airlines are reducing services in areas such as food & beverages.”
Food & beverage sales at US airports totaled US$569 million in 2008, an increase of +4.2%, according to the ACI-NA analysis. Retail sales in 2008 totaled US$639 million, up +20%.
“Airports are increasingly becoming more customer-centric through these concessions programmes,” McAllister said. “More amenities are now available as passengers wait to board their flights, from nail salons and spas to fitness centers and free Wi Fi services.”
The ACI-NA analysis also revealed the following:
� Total revenue from terminal services (food, beverage and retail) was US$1.6 billion in 2008, up +15.8% from 2007 (US$1.39 billion).
� Revenue from rental cars reached US$1.45 billion, an increase of +2.0% from 2007 (US$1.42 billion).
� Revenue from parking was US$2.99 billion, up +2.6% from 2007 (($2.91 billion).
� Food & beverage sales at US airports represents 35% of the total 2008 terminal concession revenue; retail represents about 40%.
“These positive changes regarding non-aeronautical revenue reflect the fact that although traffic may be down, airports are continuing to exceed their customers’ needs and expectations,” said McAllister.
The report was released during the 2009 ACI-NA Airport Concessions Conference in Indianapolis, which brings together more than 200 representatives of the North American airport concessions industry.
About ACI-NA
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada.
ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95% of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. More than 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.
[comments]
