Wednesday, January 19, 2011

PTIA to charge fee to pay for already-paid-for expansion?

GREENSBORO, NC -- WGHP MyFox8 reports that officials at Piedmont Triad International Airport want the FAA to authorize an additional $4.50 per passenger charge to pay for the runway and infrastructure improvements built to accommodate the FedEx overnight cargo sorting hub. WGHP cites airport officials.

Forgive me if I sound confused, but news agencies have reported that this has already been paid for.

The News & Record:
The runway was paid for using federal grants and $30 million in airport authority money.
The Business Journal:
But officials say the new runway — paid for with $120 million in federal funds and $30 million from the airport authority — will provide other immediate benefits.
Piedmont Triad Partnership:
The project was paid for mostly with government grants, as well as about $30 million from the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority revenues. 
Even PTIA's own web site says:
The runway project was funded primarily by federal government grants, along with a contribution of roughly $30 million coming from locally generated Airport Authority revenues.
So what happened? Has the expansion been paid for or not? If not, why did news organizations and community leaders report that it had been? If it has been paid for, why are airport officials saying they need to raise money to pay for it? Something doesn't fit here.

1 comment:

  1. What's the point of the airport? I mean... look at Kayak's "explore" tool and compare Greensboro to Raleigh. It's ridiculous not only in the number of flights, but the cost difference. I want to fly out of PTI, but it's not affordable to do so. Use those fees to subsidize American like RDU does, and I'd be in support... but as is, is there anything else left for PTI to do wrong?

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