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Sac International Airport expansion project challenged by airlines
By Tony Bizjak - tbizjak@sacbee.com
Published 10:45 am PST Saturday, December 1, 2007
Sacramento International Airport's biggest expansion in its history is months away from beginning, but some its biggest clients are questioning its size and cost.
"We have heartburn at trying to build a facility for $1.3 billion," said Gregory Gillis, an executive with Southwest Airlines. "That's a very high price tag."
American and Alaska airlines officials also expressed similar concerns.
But county airports director Hardy Acree says Sacramento's facility needs a major expansion to keep pace with Northern California growth and that airlines benefitting from the increased ridership must pay their fair share.
"From the beginning, we've taken the approach we (will) build what is needed, and the costs are what they are," Acree said.
The county's financing plan will require airlines to pay slightly less than half of the total expansion cost, Acree said. The remainder of the funding will come from passenger fees, parking revenues and other airport rents and fees.
Under federal rules, airports are allowed to set "reasonable" fees on airlines. The airlines can protest those fees with the federal Department of Transportation, federal officials said.
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