Airport director says FY2027 budget prepares for terminal operations, new hangars and modest fee changes

Brian Torus, the airport director, told the Provo City Council during its April 14 work meeting that the FY2027 airport budget is “pretty similar” to last year’s but includes key operational and staffing changes to support projected traffic growth. Torus said the airport added three full‑time firefighters mid‑year and is proposing a full‑time systems analyst and converting a part‑time administrative assistant to full time to meet near‑around‑the‑clock operations.

The presentation said the airport is fully compliant with FAA requirements and expects an FAA inspection this week as it prepares for a larger terminal footprint. Torus said parts of the new terminal are likely to be “close to operational” about 18 months out, which drove “moderate increases” in some maintenance and operations line items in the FY27 plan. He noted a supplemental request is in the council packet with details.

On fees, Torus said officials propose small adjustments including adding a previously missing general aviation badge fee and modest increases to landing and terminal use fees tied to CPI. He said landing fees generate roughly $600,000 a year now and that incentive waivers for new routes (two years for new routes, 12 months for added frequencies) remain part of the airport’s business strategy to attract air service.

Torus highlighted recent traffic growth — roughly 545,000 passengers in calendar 2025, a roughly 20% increase from the prior year — and identified Breeze’s route expansion as a major growth driver. He said that growth puts Provo close to FAA small‑hub thresholds, which matters principally for grant competition. He also announced three new non‑stop routes (Raleigh, Las Vegas, Burbank), noting Raleigh service starting in October.

On capital development, Torus reported the North Taxiway/Charlie hangar project has been bid; the airport expects 12 new private hangars (with a waitlist) that will generate additional ground‑lease revenue. He emphasized that because airport property was developed with federal grants, leases are subordinate to FAA grant assurances and the city must retain control of airport land.

Torus also described security and infrastructure upgrades: automatic exit lane doors to reduce employee burdens associated with TSA duties, an additional exit lane arriving within months, and a storm‑water pump project that enabled additional rental car parking by lifting drainage into the lake.

Councilors pressed Torus on capacity and finance. Torus and finance staff explained current bottlenecks (three daily peak periods and a five‑gate pinch in some windows), how bond payments and MAG revenues flow through the airport fund, and that while FY26 exhibits strong revenues and cash on hand (helpful interest income), the airport is planning conservatively and expects to remain near break‑even absent a downturn. "We're not counting on needing significant increases to make it work," Torus said.

The council did not take a formal vote on the airport budget at the meeting; staff presented details for further review.