Finance Committee Working Groups

1. Continuously monitor topics at all stages of the GASB’s standard setting process to ensure timely communication to ACI-NA Finance Committee members, solicit input, and submit comment letters on issues of particular significance to airports and sharing with the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC)
2. Provide 1 – 2 continuing professional education opportunities during the year for ACI-NA Finance Committee members.
   1. GASB update – consider inviting GASB member to speak/present.
   2. CFCs
   3. Financing alternatives including P3s
   4. Capital markets update – Late in the year
   5. PFC 102- potentially collaborate with Financial Regulations and Policy Working Group
3. Commit to continuing dialogues among the working group discussion forum related to accounting and financing issues. In addition, meet at least twice a year with the discussion forum via teams/zoom for hot topics discussion to continue to establish relationships among the working group.
   1. Consider breaking up into areas of focus – Participants can join the breakout room that best fits their interests or role—such as Debt Management, Capital Planning, Grant Compliance, Revenue Strategies, or Cost Allocation Plans.

1. Business Terms Survey:
   1. Webinar: Organize a webinar in 2026 to discuss Airline Use and Lease Agreements (AULA), including Rates by Ordinance. This session will equip airport sponsors with information to prepare for airline negotiations and provide a platform for airports to share their experiences.
   2. Survey Deployment: Continue the rollout of the 2025-26 business terms survey following the webinar to gather comprehensive data on current practices and trends.
2. Conference Planning:
   1. Airline Roundtable: The working group will maintain its tradition of hosting highly popular roundtable sessions with airlines. These sessions will feature representatives from major domestic carriers, low-cost airlines, and international Anticipated discussion topics include:
      1. Economic expectations under the new administration.
      2. Recent trends in the airline industry, encompassing both passenger and cargo operations.
      3. Current status and future outlook for air travel.
      4. Negotiation strategies for airport agreements.
3. Enhancing communication and relationships between airports and airlines.
   1. Maximizing Non-Airline Revenues: The working group will conduct a comprehensive review of non-airline revenue sources. Topics to be explored include, but not limited to:
      1. Auditing, optimizing, and improving parking
      2. Evaluating rental car contractual relationships.
      3. Strategies to expand terminal food, beverage, and retail revenues.
      4. Land and real estate management.
      5. Utility cost recovery.
      6. Other revenue-enhancing initiatives, such as Public Private Partnerships and Technology.

These initiatives are designed to provide valuable insights and practical strategies for airports to enhance their business operations and foster stronger partnerships within the aviation industry.

1.  Advocate for and provide data supporting federal policies beneficial to airports:
   1. Raising the PFC cap
   2. Providing input on PFC streamlining and its implementation
   3. Supporting opportunities for airport Government Affairs teams to coordinate with ACI-NA Government Affairs in support of policy initiatives
   4. Monitoring opportunities to expand Tax-Exempt Non-AMT financing for airport infrastructure in federal legislation, including an AMT holiday
2. Provide “regulatory round-up” briefings to interested airports
   1. One session at Business of Airports
   2. One end of year webinar
3. Coordinate with Accounting and Financing Working Group on PFC webinar for 2026
4. Advocate for continuation and expansion of alternative financing for airport projects
   1. TIFIA for airports
   2. P3s
5. Conduct a session at ACI Annual (possibly in partnership with Accounting & Financing Working Group) about P3s for airport projects
6. Create a problem statement for ACRP that addresses the topic of congestion pricing for gates
   1. Best practices from outside the U.S. and their applicability within the U.S.

Action steps:

1. Continue the 2025-26 financial benchmarking survey and conduct a review to identify future improvements such as TNC, Turo and Waymo breakdown
2. Deliver a data product using FAA Form 127 data to visualize financial data to support strategic planning
   1. Identify key metrics and leading indicators
   2. Design dashboard(s)
   3. Conduct review and feedback sessions with Finance Committee Steering Group
   4. Share product and provide training via webinar
   5. Monitor usage and collect feedback for future iterations
3. Review strategic planning and identify improvement actions
   1. Establish a repository of strategic plans
   2. Identify goals and objectives and improvement actions
   3. Host a webinar on industry best practices in budget optimization
      1. Identify and invite industry experts (large, medium, small/non-hub airports)
      2. Center the discussion on a few key metrics from the benchmarking survey

1. Continue to increase the response rate to the Procurement Benchmarking survey, reflecting user input on the metrics that would be of most immediate interest. Conduct a webinar to share survey results and facilitate sharing best practices.
2. Organize a joint session with Commercial Management Committee on concessions purchasing during the Business of Airports Conference as well a an in-person meeting for procurement professionals attending the Conference.
3. Host a webinar (or two) showcasing innovation/case studies in how airports have used technology to improve efficiency/effectiveness in the procurement process (e.g., invite airports to share lessons learned through recent system implementations, use of AI, etc.). These webinars can be jointly hosted with other relevant ACI-NA groups.