Port hears market-study options to raise Bremerton airport hangar rates; pilots urge honoring 5% cap

Port of Bremerton commissioners on an information item reviewed a 2024 market study showing regionwide increases in airport hangar rates and discussed three possible rate paths for 2025–2027.

The study, presented by port staff, compared Bremerton’s current hangar and tie‑down rates with other Puget Sound airports using data gathered in November–December 2024. The port’s airport currently manages 82 hangars across eight buildings (two large hangar buildings and six small hangar buildings) and 47 tie‑downs. Staff noted hangars are, in many cases, more than 40 years old and that maintenance and construction costs have risen “upwards of 20 to 30%” in some categories.

Why it matters: airport hangar rents are a large portion of airport revenue and directly affect pilots, many of whom told the commission they live on fixed incomes and depend on predictable, modest increases. The port’s 2024 budgeted airport revenues were $661,000 against $1,388,000 in airport…