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FAA assessment cites San Diego International Airport among select group of airports with greatest need for additional capacity

FAA Associate Administrator for Airports visits San Diego to discuss latest FAA study on nation ’s aviation capacity

SAN DIEGO – September 4, 2007 – San Diego International Airport (SDIA) is among a select group of major airports nationwide with the greatest need for additional capacity, according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) official. FAA Associate Administrator for Airports Kirk Shaffer discussed a recent FAA airport capacity study, known as FACT 2, during a visit to SDIA. The study found that without sufficient capacity enhancements, SDIA could experience extreme capacity constraints as early as 2021, with negative impacts to the nation ’s aviation system.

According to the FAA, metropolitan areas on both coasts, including San Diego, face critical capacity problems that are becoming more chronic. In addition to building new runways and airports, Shaffer pointed out a need to expand regional planning in key areas of the country, where increasing airport capacity is unlikely.

The FACT 2 study also describes FAA plans to implement a next-generation air transportation system or “NextGen,” where new technologies are used to alleviate congestion in the nation’s aviation system. This approach will be especially important for airports such as SDIA, where geographic and other constraints limit physical expansion of the airfield.

Shaffer heard from the Airport Authority about the agency’s plans to optimize SDIA to address the region’s long-term air transportation needs, including:

• An Airport Master Plan for immediately needed improvements to allow the airport to run efficiently through 2015, including the 10-gate build-out of Terminal 2 and various parking, roadway and airfield improvements.
• An Airport Transit Plan to better integrate SDIA with the region’s transportation infrastructure.
• Regional collaboration with other airport operators in San Diego County, Tijuana and Southern California.

The San Diego County Regional Airport Authority was established by state law in 2003 to operate San Diego International Airport and to address the region’s long-term air transportation needs. The Airport Authority is governed by a nine-member appointed Board representing all areas of the County. San Diego International Airport — funded through user fees and not local taxes — is the nation’s busiest single-runway commercial service airport, serving some 17.5 million passengers in 2006.

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