Airport Experience® News -Customer Service Issue 2026

ONE-ON-ONE

Left: Burke led ACI-NA’s efforts to advocate with government officials for infrastructure funding and other policy solutions, while building relationships with community and state leaders to advance the interests of North American airports.

Below: Burke was a familiar face on the stage at numerous industry conferences and events.

money. I [explained the revenue model and pointed out] that most airports carry debt, and when their cash flow stops, they still have to make their bond payments. If they don’t make the bond payments, the bond ratings go down, [which results in] them paying a higher interest rate on whatever bonds they get next because their credit rating drops. Take the tax-free municipal bond issue – I don’t know how anybody on the Hill would even think of taking the tax deductibility on those, considering they’re not only just for airports but used to build infrastructure around the country. Infrastructure [development] would crash and burn without those bonds. That’s one example. I think we’ve had influence on a lot of areas. WARD: I know you were initially tasked with achieving an increase in cap on the Passenger Facility Charge. It’s been a priority for airports for decades but has not yet come to fruition. What are your thoughts? BURKE: I’ll be honest with you, my biggest frustration is not being able to get that done. We’ve moved the rock considerably. There are more members of Congress now who understand what it means, who have aligned themselves with us. The mission going forward is going to be finding a new way of trying to increase the PFC so airports can get some breathing space to build infrastructure. If [that effort isn’t successful], the debt ratios in airports are

going to climb and costs per enplanement are going to climb. The $4.50 PFC right now is basically doing debt retirement – it really doesn’t help much with new construction. I’ve known for a long time that it’s not about the money for the airlines; it’s about control. But I think there needs to be a long look at how we do this because the longer we go without fixing infrastructure, the more expensive it gets, and then we all have to pay for it. WARD: In your assessment of the airport industry currently, what big challenges will your successor, Chris Rocheleau, have to tackle right away? BURKE: Cybersecurity risks will become more sophisticated and artificial intelligence will change how airports operate, plan and make decisions. The cost of electricity, the cost of fuel, the air traffic control system and air traffic control modernization [are paramount issues]. And then there’s the infrastructure part – we have to build airports that reflect not only today but what’s going to be there the next 20 years. Airport directors are so busy operationally [but] they need to sit down and think more about tomorrow. What are airports going to look like in 2040? We have no idea – all I know is, they’re going to look very different than they look today. The concession industry has a very big challenge in airports because they’re trying to put out great product but the cost of selling there is high, and the ability to

get workers is high, and [there is constant challenge] trying to match the needs of passengers. Finally, one of the most important considerations is how to bring new talent into this industry. It’s not just about the talent today, but how do we nurture the folks that want to come into the industry and be the leaders 20 or 25 years from now. WARD: Finally, what’s next for you? BURKE: For the first couple of months I’m not going to go to any airports! After that, I love to travel and actually [my wife] Barbara and I are going to start [traveling] again – the difference will be I won’t have to go to meetings. But I know full well, after having this job, that every airport I travel through I’ll be looking around for stuff that they’re doing. I’m pretty proud of the fact that we had a role as an association to help effect those changes, and the association will continue to have a role to help airports get the money to be able to make the changes that the customers or passengers want.

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AX NEWS OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026