BTW: MidAmerica pushed 303,000 people through those 2 gates in 2019 and is still pushing 250,000 during these pandemic times.
They are now planning to complete Metro past Shiloh-Scott all the way to the terminal and are in the middle of a 2 gate expansion on the north side of the terminal.
Definitely not a news item as a "waste" anymore.
Depends on your POV. 303,000/year is less than 1000 passengers per day. 5-6 planes per day inbound and outbound. Small cities like Fargo have more passengers. St Louis Lambert had more passengers going to Denver and almost as many going to Atlanta, plus all the passengers to/from other locations.
Mid-America was built with great promise but stopped making sense when American bought TWA and Lambert stopped being a major hub. It's not Midway or John Wayne which are needed because O'Hare and LAX are so crowded; Mid-America's traffic could easily be absorbed by the several empty gates at Lambert. Mid-America is nothing more than a tax burden kept alive by a few civic boosters on the Illinois side of the river and should be closed to stop the waste of subsidies to keep alive a limited airport. The only airline flying there today is the fringe Allegiant Air. It should be closed to save taxpayer money.
I don't challenge or doubt the subsidies, or anything you said about TWA and Lambert. All true.
The State of Missouri & St Louis County are still paying for the 3rd runway at Lambert. Which is only used for heavy aircraft now, which isn't often.
Even if the terminal was shut down, torn down and never used ever again, there would still be costs. Airports are a strategic item.
Per the Belleville News Democrat:
MidAmerica was designed to alleviate traffic at Lambert St. Louis International Airport, bring passenger service to the metro-east and support operations at Scott Air Force Base, which uses its runways. Federal and state funding covered most of MidAmerica’s $313 million cost ($218 for construction and $95 million for the required removal and replacement of a base housing complex). In 2019, the airport took in $2.7 million in landing fees, terminal-usage fees, rents and fuel-sale profits, according to that year’s audit. It spent $4.7 million for salaries, supplies and other operating costs, requiring the county to cover a $2 million annual deficit. Beyond the operating budget, the county: Paid $4.2 million in interest on bonds and debt certificates that have been issued for MidAmerica development, expansion and improvement over the years (and refinanced in some cases). Paid about $1.8 million in airport-related debt principals, as projected in its 2018 audit. Took in $1.4 million in grants, real-estate lease payments and other airport-related, non-operating revenue. Overall, the county cost came to about $6.6 million for 2019. Remaining long-term debt related to MidAmerica was $74.6 million, not including an expected $44.4 million in interest on bonds.
In 2020, the airport took in $2.4 million in landing fees, terminal-usage fees, rents and fuel-sale profits, according to that year’s audit. It spent $5.2 million for salaries, supplies and other operating costs, requiring the county to cover a $2.8 million annual deficit. Beyond the operating budget, the county: Paid $3.6 million in interest on bonds and debt certificates that have been issued for MidAmerica development, expansion and improvement over the years (and refinanced in some cases). Paid $2 million in airport-related debt principals, as projected in its 2019 audit. Took in $4.9 million in grants, real-estate lease payments and other airport-related, non-operating revenue. Overall, the county’s costs would have totaled $7.1 million for 2020, but the one-time infusion of CARES Act money dropped it down to $3.5 million. “Airport revenues increased more than $1 million,” the 2020 audit states. “Declines in operating revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic were offset by $3.6 million in Federal CARES grants. “Aeronautical rents, fees, terminal concessions, Passenger Facility Charges, and parking revenues represented a $394,000 decrease. Fuel sales decreased more than $1.6 million as fuel prices continued to be volatile; however the number of gallons sold also dropped nearly 227,000 gallons.” Remaining long-term debt related to MidAmerica was $87.1 million in 2020, not including an expected $25.5 million in interest on bonds. This represents an increase in debt and decrease in interest due to refinancing.
The Boeing Co. announced on Sept. 17 that it’s building a 300-square-foot production facility at MidAmerica that will be used to make the U.S. Navy’s first aircraft-refueling drones. It will be the defense contractor’s second factory at the airport. The existing one, covering 50,000 square feet, produces components for fighter jets, commercial airplanes and military helicopters. Boeing will pay $65,000 in rent the first year for the new factory, then about $450,000 annually, Johnson told the BND in early September.
MidAmerica added 500 parking spaces in 2020, according to the county audit. It’s now increasing its terminal size from 53,500 to 98,599 square feet. Officials expect to cover about $13 million of the $30 million cost with FAA grants.
Read more at:
https://www.bnd.com/news/politics-government/article255002572.htmlI use both airports infrequently. I recognize the good, the bad and the ugly in both. My POV is that they are operating today, they are increasing business every year (except during covid), they are seeking tenants and revenue sources on a regular basis. While Allegiant was a weak partner at first, they finally have made a commitment to the locale. Yep, they (the airport) need help, but they aren't sitting on their collective arse's about it either.
It will be interesting to see who (airlines) take a look at MidAmerica when the 2 new gates open up.
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