Privatization of Airports, Air Traffic Control and Airport Security

Policy Brief

Privatization of Airports, Air Traffic Control and Airport Security

Aviation Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2011

This section of Reason Foundation’s Annual Privatization Report 2011 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest news on domestic and international airport privatization and the privatization of airport security. Topics include:

  • In the aftermath of the credit markets crunch of 2008-2009, the airport market continued its recovery in 2011, with efforts including Puerto Rico’s current plan to privatize San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport and Chicago’s continued interest in a potential Midway Airport lease.
  • A total of 48% of European air passengers were handled by partly or fully privatized airports in 2011, with that share likely to grow with impending privatization initiatives in Spain and Greece.
  • Amid public outrage over TSA’s introduction of body scanners and aggressive pat-downs, the administration and Congress continued to battle over proposals to allow airports to opt-out of TSA security and hire private screeners. However, some progress was made in Washington D.C. over reviving the trusted traveler program, advancing a more risk-based approach to security.
  • Since 1990, 51 governments have commercialized their air traffic control systems, separating the air traffic control functions from regulatory bodies, removing them from civil service, and making them self-supporting from fees charged to aircraft operators. However, there was no significant progress in 2011 toward commercializing air traffic control in the United States.
  • Other more news on domestic and international airport privatization and air traffic control commercialization.

» Annual Privatization Report 2011: Air Transportation [pdf, 590 KB]

» Complete Annual Privatization Report 2011