Lunken Airport serves as a vital transportation hub, supporting business activities, creating jobs, and contributing significantly to the overall economic vitality of Greater Cincinnati. As a general aviation, municipal airport, it plays a crucial role in driving local economic growth and enhances regional connectivity.
Municipal, general aviation airports, like Lunken, are particularly valuable for corporate and small business aviation. They provide convenient access for corporate executives and employees, facilitating face-to-face meetings, client visits, and business expansion opportunities. The flexibility and efficiency offered by these airports make them indispensable for large and small companies.
A general aviation airport is a public-use airport that does not have commercial service or has scheduled service. Typical operations include business flying, personal flying, industrial flying, and charter activity, aerial photography, law enforcement, banner towing, skydiving, sightseeing flights, medivac, organ transplant transport, search and rescue.
Research by the Transportation Research Bureau has shown that improved airport connectivity strengthens economic activity in surrounding areas. Their study found that adding flights to a new destination generated more economic effects than increasing capacity to an existing destination. On average, connecting a metropolitan area with an extra destination created 223 jobs and 15 new business establishments. This demonstrates how municipal airports can act as catalysts for job creation and business growth.
For those who may not directly use municipal airports, it’s important to understand that these facilities contribute to the overall economic health of the city. They attract businesses, support tourism, facilitate emergency medical services, and enable just-in-time delivery of goods. The economic activity generated by airports, such as Lunken, ripples throughout the local economy, supporting jobs in various sectors such as hospitality, retail, and professional services.
According to an article in The Cincinnati Enquirer, Lunken earned $2.5 million in revenue last fiscal year with approximately $1.7 million in expenses. The City of Cincinnati owns the airport. It falls under the City’s Transportation and Engineering Department. Lunken’s manager is Jaime Edrosa. Additionally, Lunken maintains citizen input through the Lunken Airport Oversight Advisory Board (LAOAB) which is appointed by the Mayor Pureval. It is to review operations, capital improvements, development, and growth at Lunken Airport and to advise and make recommendations to city council based upon the results of such review. The LAOAB’s board members are: Anne Sesler (Chair); Anthony Covatta; Alexander Linser; Todd Pease; Robert Roark; Kevin Shelton; Neil Tilow; and Jeff McLean. The City of Cincinnati, to its credit, recognized Lunken’s importance when it allocated $1.4 million this fiscal year for Lunken.
Recently the Cincinnati Futures Commission considered Lunken Airport. It concluded that the 94-year-old airport needs approximately $105 million in upgrades and improvements. At the beginning of July 2024, the Biden Administration through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a seventh round of Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) totaling $289 million to 129 airports across 40 states, improving the safety and efficiency of air travel. The projects are funded under President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s AIG program, part of the $25 billion in total funding for airport improvements such as terminal expansions, baggage system upgrades, runway safety enhancements, and air traffic infrastructure improvements. This might be a future source of funding for improvements to Lunken Airport.
Just imagine the economic impact, jobs, and improved quality of life, if Lunken Airport were enhanced. For instance, Lunken could have a hotel, terminal modernization, park upgrades, hangar improvements, policies and accommodations which support increased small business utilization, runway optimization, and further development.
In conclusion, municipal airports like Lunken Airport are essential economic engines that drive growth, create jobs, and enhance regional competitiveness. As Cincinnati looks to the future, investing in and supporting Lunken will be crucial for maintaining economic vibrancy and ensuring long-term prosperity.
Eric H. Kearney, a Cincinnati attorney, is president and CEO of the Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce. He is a founder of KGL Media Group.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this commentary piece do not necessarily the express the opinions of The Cincinnati Herald.