January/February 2023 - 37

AIRPORT GURU
AUTHOR Curt Castagna
As Airlines Cut Flights, Scheduled
Charter Operations Are Filling the Void
During the COVID-19 pandemic,
68 airports across the nation lost
commercial air service, negatively
impacting the essential movement of
people and goods. Private jet operators
reacted quickly to meet the need
for essential air services independent
of federal funding, with aircraft
operations rebounding more rapidly
at general aviation airports than at
commercial airports.
In some rural or remote areas where
NATA
BOTH COMMERCIAL service and general aviation airports
play a vital role in the nation's air transportation
system - providing freedom of mobility, attracting investment,
and generating employment in local communities.
The Airline Deregulation Act,
passed in 1978, gave air carriers
great discretion to determine which
markets to serve domestically and
what fares to charge for that service.
Soon after, Congress established the
Essential Air Service Program to help
support a minimum level of scheduled
air service in small communities and
connect them to the nation's transportation
network.
However, as documented by the
U.S. Government Accountability
Office, air service to small communities
has declined since 2007 and
airports of all sizes have lost capacity
in the number of available seats and
flights offered to the traveling public.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CURT CASTAGNA
Curt Castagna, president and CEO of Aeroplex Group Partners, is also president
and CEO of the National Air Transportation Association, the immediate past chair
of the Los Angeles County Airport Commission, and president of the Van Nuys and
Long Beach airport associations. A certified private and instrument-rated pilot,
he continues to instruct courses in aviation administration at Cypress Community
College and Cal State Los Angeles.
there is limited commercial service,
business travelers have chosen to fly
privately rather than spend an extended
number of hours waiting for a connection
to a larger hub.
In light of these facts, it is hard to
overlook the importance of general
aviation airports as commercial airlines
continue to cut back on service, flights
and personnel. There are approximately
5,100 public use airports in
the nation accessed by general aviation
aircraft, compared to approximately
500 that offer commercial airline
service. This means that business aviation
reaches 10 times the number
of U.S. airports than do the airlines,
while contributing $150 billion to U.S.
economic output and employing more
than 1.2 million people.
Today, there is a growing national
trend for on-demand aircraft charter
brokers to market and sell flights on
a per-seat basis as a more affordable
alternative to chartering an entire aircraft.
In many cases, these third-party
brokers post schedules (including the
departure time, departure location and
arrival location) on websites and smart
phone applications that match passengers
with available aircraft.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 37
http://www.AVIATIONPROS.COM
January/February 2023

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