What Industry/Local Changes Will Be Looked At
Among the trends that have occured in the last 10 years in St. Louis and nationally that will be involved in the study are:
- Airline bankruptcies, acquisitions, and ongoing mergers in the Industry, including:
- American Airlines acquisition of TWA
- Impact of economic downturns including the current worldwide recession
- Trends in the St. Louis economy and business environment
- Significant growth of low-cost/low-fare airlines impacting legacy carriers
- Aviation fuel costs and oil-market fluctuations
- Reductions locally and nationally in domestic seat capacity
- "Open Skies" agreements
- Changing airline business models
- Incorporating "sustainability/green initiatives" into facility planning
- Maximizing the cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit of capital-development dollars
- Fluctuations in traditional sources of revenue and airport trends in diversifying revenue sources
- Impact of 9/11 tragedies on airport facilities, operations, and passenger activity, including:
- Expanded passenger, baggage, and air cargo security requirements
- Impact of increased security requirements on design of terminal facilities
- Costs to airports to meet changing requirements
- Changes in aircraft types and aircraft fleet mix nationally and locally
- Pending Missouri Air National Guard relocation