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Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority reports near‑prepandemic traffic and outlines capital plans
Summary
CHO CEO Jason Birch told the City Council the airport handled about 699,000 passengers in 2024 (roughly 90% of pre‑COVID levels), is self‑sufficient for operating costs, and is planning studies and projects — from solar feasibility to terminal and airfield upgrades — as it readies for future growth.
Charlottesville Albemarle Airport Authority CEO Jason Birch told the City Council the airport handled about 699,000 passengers in 2024 and is “about 90% recovered” from the COVID downturn, with daily terminal passenger seats approaching pre‑pandemic levels.
Birch said the airport operates without local tax support and that roughly half of its operating revenue comes from parking. He described a mix of ongoing and planned projects: elevated pavement and runway maintenance, an IT and security upgrade, terminal asset replacement (escalators and baggage belts), elevator replacements, a renovated fire station, and work to prepare school roofs for possible future solar installations. He also briefed councilors on CHO’s governance and staffing: three airlines serve the field to major hubs and the airport authority contracts general‑aviation services to Signature Aviation.
Why it matters: The airport’s passenger rebound and its claim of financial self‑sufficiency bear on regional transportation planning, parking and access strategies, and the city’s long‑range capital budgeting. Birch said a new economic‑impact study under way will provide updated jobs and activity estimates that the city and county can use for regional planning.
Councilors pressed Birch on several operational questions. He confirmed CHO contracts with Signature Aviation for general‑aviation services and fuel management and that CHO issues its own bonds for capital work when needed. On solar opportunities, Birch said staff periodically invite local developers to assess feasibility: the airport owns large acreage but much of that may be needed for future facility expansion; airport planning must be coordinated with FAA and future facility needs. Birch also discussed parking strategy and regional access, saying the airport draws passengers from a broad service area of roughly 10 counties and that shuttle or regional transit solutions are challenging to implement but under discussion with regional partners.
Birch emphasized the airport’s workforce and concessions as critical to passenger experience and repeated that CHO’s operating budget is fully funded by airport revenue streams rather than local tax dollars. He asked council for continued opportunities to update the council as the airport advances capital projects and the pending economic‑impact study.
