Scottsdale Airport weighs status quo against new direction
— -- Scottsdale Airport in metropolitan Phoenix is facing a decision on what it wants to be in its next life.
Does it stick with the status quo, go after bigger and newer business jets, or try for niche commercial service to hot spots such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Colorado's ski resorts?
Those are the three options presented to the city's Airport Advisory Commission in December as part of the airport's first Strategic Business Plan. The plan is designed to help Scottsdale's municipal airport fight off competition from other Phoenix-area airports that want a piece of its prestigious, lucrative market of corporate aircraft.
Scottsdale Airport is one of six in the Phoenix area designated as a reliever airport, meaning it gives private pilots an alternative to primary service airports such as Phoenix Sky Harbor International. Scottsdale Airport remains the busiest corporate-jet facility in the state and the second-busiest single-runway airport in the country.
But its biggest disadvantage is that it lacks available land for expansion.
Its main up-and-coming competitor, the two-runway Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, has nearly three times as many aircraft leasing space on-site as Scottsdale does.
"It's a matter of grow or die," Vice Chairman Mike Osborne said. "If we don't grow, we will start to limit ourselves greatly."
He said he would prefer a mix of the status quo and larger-aircraft options. Raising the airport's limits on aircraft weight would allow it to attract the newer, higher-end private jets coming to market, he said.
The direction for the airport will depend on finances and discussions with the community, commissioners said.
Wilbur Smith Associates, the Columbia, S.C.-based transportation consulting firm that is preparing the business plan, is to present a financial report estimating costs of the three options in March.
The Arizona Republic is owned by Gannett, parent company of USA TODAY.
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