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Fairhope airport authority reports financial turnaround, runway strengthening and hangar demand
Summary
Airport authority reported a shift from deficit to profit following a new fixed-base operator agreement, completed terminal and stronger hangar demand; FAA-funded runway resurfacing and weight upgrades planned to permit larger business jets.
Fairhope — The Fairhope Airport Authority updated the council on operations, financials and capital projects, reporting recent progress on terminal upgrades, vendor agreements, hangar demand and FAA-funded runway strengthening.
Don Ward, chairman of the Airport Authority, and Dave Bridal, the airport manager, told council members the authority now reports consistent operating profits after ending an unfavorable long-term lease with the previous fixed-base operator in 2023 and entering a new vendor agreement tied to fuel sales in October 2024. The airport opened a new terminal in October 2024 and a flight school has since been established on-site.
The authority said about 60 aircraft are currently based at the airport, with roughly 7,500 operations per month (~250 per day). The airport manages 24 T-hangars and four large hangars; the authority has also arranged 13 ground leases for owner-built hangars (about 33 hangars completed or under construction) and said easily buildable space is running low.
Don Ward described a recent large event — the Air Race Classic — which originated in Fairhope and drew 41 teams (91 racers) and about 200 hotel-room nights; the authority estimates the event generated about $200,000 in economic benefit for the city.
On capital projects, the authority reported FAA approval for a runway resurfacing and strengthening project scheduled to begin in October that will increase the runway weight-bearing limit from 55,000 pounds to 90,000 pounds and replace runway and taxiway lighting. The upgrade will allow larger business jets to land and take on fuel at Fairhope and could enable some of those aircraft to base at the airport. The airport authority said it has set aside its local share (about $351,000) and expects the work to improve operations and fuel-revenue prospects.
Future priorities include replacing the weather station and preparing shovel-ready projects (taxiway access, utilities and access roads) to accelerate hangar development if discretionary funds become available. The airport authority said a potential federal earmark through a congressional office is under consideration by the FAA and that the authority will continue pursuing grant and ALDOT support for infrastructure projects.
Councilors praised volunteer members of the airport authority for their work; no city appropriation was requested at the meeting and the authority said it had funds reserved to cover its local share for the runway project.
