Chandler: Airport should be bigger economic player

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

After listing statistics that show how busy Chandler Municipal Airport is — and how different business could be if a few planned upgrades are completed soon — the airport’s manager, Ryan Reeves, told the Chandler City Council what’s needed.

A strategic business plan calls for mainly, continued city investment in matching and funding airport infrastructure as part of the city’s 10-year plan and keeping annual expenses manageable.

Reeves presented this to council in a Nov. 4 work session.

There’s also a strategic business plan drafted.

“We are simply not getting our fair share of the market,” Reeves said. “This strategic business plan is aimed at fixing that.”

Studies and comprehensive analysis led to a draft of the airport’s business plan. Aside from physical improvements, increases in fees are a main element of the draft plan.

One project Reeves mentioned in both the work session and in a recent Chandler Chamber of Commerce airports-focused event was lengthening its main runway beyond 5,500 feet in length. That length seems to be an industry cutoff number that discourages or prohibits medium-size private plans from using Chandler’s airport.

The business plan was assembled with outreach to more than a dozen stakeholders, such as the Chamber, senior city staff and board chairs and businesses with a presence at the airport.

Reeves said in putting together the plan, the scope had to be re-defined several times.

A four-phase community impact study will focus on why the airport’s need for a runway extension could benefit the community and why that’s important. That study will continue through 2025.

At one point in the discussion, the idea of bonding for money to fund at least one planned project was discussed. But there is, notably, no mention of bond possibilities or discussion in a city news release about the work session.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke pointed out that when a city bond committee met a few years ago, the decision to bond for major airport projects concluded “We’re not ready,” as a city, to make that type of commitment.

Current council member Jane Poston and dozens of others served on that bond committee.

Reeves’ full presentation can be viewed here. 

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Chandler Airport Manager Ryan Reeves wants the facility to be a bigger player in its aviation market. He and others have drafted a strategic business plan for the airport and is completing an impact study to help the city gain more airport business.

Courtesy of city of Chandler

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.