Melissa M Pratt 
Airport Privatization 
Aspects, Issues, and Challenges

Almost all commercial service airports in the United States are owned by local and state governments, or by public entities such as airport authorities or multipurpose port authorities. In 1996, Congress established the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP) to explore the prospect of privatizing publicly owned airports and using private capital to improve and develop them. In addition to reducing demand for government funds, privatization has been promoted as a way to make airports more efficient and financially viable. Privatization refers to the shifting of governmental functions, responsibilities, and sometimes ownership, in whole or in part, to the private sector. With respect to airports, "privatization" can take many forms up to and including the transfer of an entire airport to private operation and/or ownership. This book examines the issues and options for Congress with airport privatization. It describes the experience with the APPP; examines the challenges airport owners and investors face to full airport privatization; describes the potential effects of airport privatization; and, discusses reasons why airport privatization is more prevalent outside of the U.S. and stakeholder views on the APPP.