Title
Airports Council International - North America Membership
Description
This report requests that the Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee recommend City Council approval of the 2021 annual dues payment for the Aviation Department's membership in Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA). The annual dues for 2021 are $149,629.60.
THIS ITEM IS FOR CONSENT ACTION.
Report
Summary
ACI-NA is one of five worldwide regions of Airports Council International and represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA advocates for airports by addressing federal and regulatory issues that impact airports and the aviation industry, including issues such as FAA flight paths, safety and security and FAA funding reauthorization.
ACI-NA is also deeply engaged with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations Specialized Agency with strategic objectives including safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency, security and facilitation, economic development of air transport, and environmental protection. ACI-NA’s observer status allows it to place a subject matter expert on the Air Navigation Commission, which allows the airport sector early input into proposed technical recommendations that have direct consequences for airport design and operation.
In addition, Phoenix airports are well represented by staff serving on ACI committees including the Large Hub Airport, Operations and Technical Affairs, US Governmental Affairs, Legal Affairs, Public Safety and Security, Business Diversity, Business Information Technology, Finance, Marketing and Communications, Risk Management, Small Airports, Human Resources, and Commercial Management committees. These committees are charged with the development of recommendations that ACI-NA helps advance on behalf of U.S. airports to regulators in Washington, D.C.
As the owner and operator of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, the City of Phoenix receives great value from the services and industry coordination and collaboration that are provided/organized by ACI-NA. At the start of 2020, airports were on track for another record-breaking year in air travel. The global spread of COVID-19, however, sparked an abrupt drop in air travel, bringing the aviation industry to a near standstill. ACI-NA continued to support the industry this year by:
- Securing $10 billion in financial relief for U.S. airports following the virtual shutdown of air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Establishing the Airport Industry Recovery Advisory Panel to develop 53 recommendations and priorities to guide the industry through recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Amplifying our infrastructure message on a national level by hosting a presidential candidate forum on infrastructure;
- Supporting airports by filing amicus briefs in two legal cases that would have restricted airport abilities to operate in a self-sufficient way; and
- Fighting back legislative efforts to increase liability on airports over per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) rules set by Congress and the FAA.
There are no shortage of challenges as we look toward 2021. In support of the airport industry, ACI-NA will continue to:
- Lead the fight to modernize the Passenger Facility Charge user fee as the industry seeks to recover lost revenue from the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Advocate for the rapid expansion of touchless technology at the TSA checkpoint and biometric entry at Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to enhance passenger facilitation;
- Work to reopen domestic and international travel in a seamless way that prioritizes health, safety, and confidence in air travel; and
- Empower airports to become more sustainable while providing advocacy on environmental issues like noise.
Financial Impact
The annual dues for 2021 are $149,629.60.
Location
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Council District: 8
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Aviation Department.