Barnstable Municipal Airport moves closer to new terminal, tower

Published on Thursday, January 21, 2010

Commissioners Approve Financial Plan and Revenue Fee

The Barnstable Municipal Airport Commission has taken two significant steps toward final approval of a new $20 million passenger terminal for the Hyannis airport. Meeting Tuesday, commissioners unanimously approved a financial plan that requires no funds from the Town of Barnstable or its taxpayers. “The new terminal and access road can be paid-for with state and federal grants, government bonds and airport reserves,” said Chairman Daniel W. Santos. “Our consultants are telling us there may never be a better time to move forward with this project, given low interest rates and the probability of low construction bids.”

The financial plan, described by Commission Vice Chairman Donald E. Megathlin as “very conservative,” counts on $13.1 million from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, $3.7 million in revenue from general obligation bonds and a $3.2 million contribution from savings the airport has built up over the years. The bonds, to be initially floated by the Town of Barnstable, would be paid off over time solely from airport user fees on passenger boardings and rental cars.

Passenger User Fee

The commissioners also voted unanimously to ask the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve a plan to have departing passengers pay a $2 user fee each time they fly. Last fall, the commissioners approved a $1 per-passenger fee but decided to increase it Tuesday on the advice of their financial consultant, Jacobs Consultancy. Passenger user fees are in place at 84 percent of eligible U.S. airports, although Barnstable Municipal Airport has not had one in the past. A $2 user fee would represent about two percent of the cost of a round-trip Nantucket flight. It should not be a burden, Megathlin said, because nearly two-thirds of the airport’s commuting passengers now fly on discount-priced tickets.

In other action, the commissioners authorized a consultant study to measure the airport’s economic benefit to the region and established a selection committee – including Commissioners Megathlin and John Griffin – to hire an engineering firm to design a new aircraft control tower for the airport. The tower will be paid-for by the FAA.

A public meeting on the airport’s draft master plan will be held March 3, 2010 at 6:30 pm in the Barnstable Town Hall hearing room, Airport Manager Bud Breault announced. He also said talks are continuing on the specifics of a proposed airport access road.

For further information, please contact Airport Manager Bud Breault at 508 775-3033 or at roland.breault@town.barnstable.ma.us.