RDU increasingly satisfies our region — let’s keep it that way
- September 23, 2021
- Posted by: Joe Milazzo II
- Category: Blog
In 2019, we wrote that RDU had made a grand entrance into the “large” airports category of the J.D. Power Airport Satisfaction Survey for North American airports, achieving a 5th best ranking in its first foray at that level.
In 2021, RDU continues its climb, now ranking 3rd in North America among large airports — better than all but New Orleans and Tampa in that category of 20 airports.
This new J.D. Power study, which was based on traveler survey data through July 2021, noted that challenges associated with higher passenger volumes, reduced staffing, and ongoing airport construction can adversely impact traveler satisfaction — and it also noted that the conclusion of airport infrastructure projects usually leads to significantly improved satisfaction scores.
The regional business community recognizes that our air travel volumes are going to continue to grow, perhaps dramatically, as our market continues its expansion. And, we recognize that airport infrastructure investments at RDU are just that — investments in our future, necessities for our regional community, and essential to our ongoing success for both business and leisure quality of life.
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RTA launched our airport infrastructure development task force in 2019, with initial findings provided at our 18th annual meeting in January 2020, and follow-up, post-pandemic recommendations from our RTA RDU AID task force at our annual breakfast earlier this summer. The summary from the task force of regional business leaders was clear: to resolve the looming capital funding shortfall at RDU, this region must take true ownership of RDU’s financial future, by quickly raising or activating the airport user fees it can, modernizing and increasing local funding, and elevating and aligning the RDU 2040 campus vision with revenue reality.
The RTA Regional Leadership Team endorsed several of those recommendations at our annual retreat last month as part of our organization’s overall Accelerated Metropolitan Mobility strategy for the growing Research Triangle market.
RTA will continue our push on infrastructure development at the airport into 2022. Doing so will ensure the future success of our community, and sustained satisfaction for air travelers.
Please contact me to learn more, and thank you for your ongoing membership and support.
Let’s get moving,
Joe
Joe Milazzo II, PE
RTA executive director
RTA is the voice of the regional business community on transportation in the Research Triangle area.
RTA represents more than 100 leading businesses and 25 member chambers of commerce in central and eastern North Carolina. RTA is a regional program of the Raleigh Chamber.
