Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is one of the largest airports in Michigan, covering more than 3,100 acres (U.S. department of transportation federal aviation administration, 2021). According to the statistics provided by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (n.d.), every day, approximately 10,000 travelers pass through the airport. The airport is used by six airlines that conduct more than 100 flights a day to domestic and international destinations.
The official website of the airport does not contain any information on its catchment area. Nonetheless, it is assumed that the GRR catchment area is limited to the boundaries of the western and the southwestern regions of Michigan because to the east of the GRR, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) is located. DTW is the primary American international airport and, therefore, a competitor of the GRR.
The GRR cooperates with the Hudson Group, “the largest travel retailer in North America with over 950 stores in 83 airports” (GFIA Press Release, 2016, para. 2). The group manages a restaurant and several retail shops in the GRR that offer a wide range of travel essentials from reading materials and snacks to electronics (GFIA Press Release, 2016). Even though the GRR provides a lot of various services to travelers, there is something that it is missing. For example, the airport administration could think of creating luggage storage and a hotel complex that would be demanded by the travelers whose flight was postponed.
One of the ways to increase non-aeronautical revenues might be to construct hangars, and warehouses and send them as market property to, for example, domestic air carriers. The aeronautical revenues could be increased through the attraction of major airlines. This could be achieved through the expansion of the airport and the development of its infrastructure. The airport administration could think of creating discount programs for the airlines that, for instance, achieve an average load of 95 percent. This measure would help to attract new airlines and new travelers, and therefore, increase aeronautical revenues.
References
Gerald R. Ford International Airport (n.d.). Business opportunities. Web.
GFIA Press Release (2016). New Restaurants & Retail Coming to Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Web.
U.S. department of transportation federal aviation administration (2021). Airport master record. Web.