Posted On: October 20, 2020
Daytona Beach International Airport will provide financial accommodations to passenger-reliant tenants that are financially suffering from the travel industry’s economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Volusia County Council approved the airport’s request during its Oct. 20 meeting. The county-run airport is an enterprise fund and operates from the revenues it generates; its operations are not supported by ad valorem taxes.
The airport was awarded $21,053,492 in CARES Act funds by the Federal Aviation Administration to be used for operating costs, bond payments and capital projects. The approved tenant accommodations allocate 8.1%, or $1.7 million (as of August 2020), of CARES Act funds by offsetting revenue for passenger-reliant tenants that are being drastically affected by the decline of passenger traffic.
“These accommodations meet the intent of the CARES Act funds to keep airports in reliable, safe operation to serve the aviation industry, the traveling public, support the economy, and to keep airport and aviation workers employed,” said Airport Director Karen Feaster.
According to a 2019 Florida Department of Transportation report, Daytona Beach International Airport has an economic impact of $2.09 billion.
“The Daytona Beach International Airport is so much more than runways and a terminal, it’s a powerful engine of economic growth for Volusia County,” said Aviation and Economic Development Director Rick Karl.
“Because of the airport’s major economic impact, it’s crucial to support the resiliency of the airport and its stakeholders,” said Karl.
Passenger-reliant airport tenants include airlines, terminal food and beverage, news and gifts, paid parking, rental cars and advertising concession.
Accommodations for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines include waiving landing fees for FY21, rental fees for first quarter of FY21, 50% of rental fees for second quarter of FY21, and 25% of rental fees for third quarter of FY21. For food and beverage, parking, rental cars and terminal advertising, the accommodations include waiving the minimum annual guarantee. More details can be found at https://vcservices.vcgov.org/agenda/agendas/20201020/Item-22-8258.pdf.
Also during the Oct. 20 meeting, the County Council approved the airport to provide marketing support up to $300,000 to American Airlines to market two new seasonal routes servicing Daytona Beach International Airport: Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Philadelphia (PHL). Both flights will be available from Dec. 17 through April 5.
For more information, contact Terminal Manager Pat O’Brien at 386-248-8030 ext.18318.