Development Challenges of Small and Secondary Airports in California

A challenge for operators of secondary airports in California is that Increased low-cost carrier (LCC) aircraft operations have led to significant noise impacts on the surrounding communities. Operators have imposed curfews to limit the noise impacts, but this approach constrains the LCCs and has lead some to initiate flights out of large hubs instead. Statistics from this study show that the LCCs have replaced the legacy airlines as the dominant air provider in the state. With their growing dominance, the LCCs will become more attractive to the large hub airports, and the secondary airports will face increased competition in retaining them. To retain those LCCs, the secondary airports must better understand how LCCs make investment decisions related to airport development. At the same time, they must better educate the LCCs about their airport needs.