Airport Experience® News - Post-Conference Issue 2026

“How it gets monetized is going to be a challenge,” says Michael McCarter, managing consultant at an aviation consulting firm. “Is it just for show, like for a world’s fair? Or is it sustainable and affordable?” Power And Infrastructure Electric aircraft require high-capacity and fast charging that will push utilities and airport facilities teams to coordinate closely. Planning should address grid upgrades, on-site storage and scalable distribution, experts say. Operational acceptance will be as important as electrons. “Grid capacity is a challenge, but the biggest challenge is public acceptance,” says Dirk Singer, head of sustainability and research at SimpliFlying, an aviation marketing, branding and communications consultancy firm. “You’re dealing with a completely new form of aircraft. How does the general public feel about these flying over your head.” With those realities in mind, airports are approaching facility design pragmatically. The current wave of projects focuses on dual-use facilities, sites capable of serving both helicopters and eVTOLs until dedicated vertiports prove their business case. Analysts expect airport linked shuttles and short-haul regional routes to enter limited service this year and scale toward broader adoption around 2030 as infrastructure, pricing models and public acceptance mature. Airports will mix strategies. Some will adapt underused helipads or remote stands. Others will reserve new parcels for purpose-built facilities. Demand modeling is already guiding site choices. “We know how many people are traveling between any two points, why they’re traveling, how much time they’re losing in congestion and what they’re willing to pay to save that time,” Cox says. “That lets us model demand, layer in aviation expertise and build commercially viable vertiport networks from the ground up.” Sites that connect cleanly to terminals, public transport and ground access will deliver the most value. When a vertiport plugs into the broader mobility network, it strengthens the airport’s role as a regional connector. “Commercial

airports are a natural node in any region for AAM, where people are used to having aircraft in the environment,” says Marchand. “They will be part of initial route networks.” Passenger experience is expected to be fast and simple. Compact lounges, quiet waiting areas and seamless digital services will shape expectations. Retail and food should fit short dwell times with mobile ordering and pickup. Facilities ought to feel modern and consistent with the airport’s design language. Some airports will thread eVTOL flows through existing terminals. Velasco notes that while eVTOL passengers may in some cases connect through the main terminal, many airports are planning dedicated facilities. “Ground handling, charging infrastructure and maintenance areas for eVTOLs are likely to be purpose-built, reflecting their distinct operational patterns and turnaround times,” he says. Marchand adds, “This will be case by case, based on airport development plans. There are existing plans for landing locations on top of parking garages or close to rental car facilities, connecting to the airport transportation system.” Lyttle confirms that MCO’s terminal will remain part of the journey. “Yes, the terminal will still be part of the journey, but passenger induction points may be different from the traditional air passenger.”

Shaping The Market AAM is expected to open new revenue lines for commercial teams. Income may come from landing fees, ground rents, charging services and amenities. Experts say that energy management will become a business function as airports distribute power. Lease structures can evolve to align rent with operational milestones or energy use so airport and operator grow together. Caution is still the headline for many leaders. “Uncertainty is the overall word to couch all this in,” says Chris Oswald, senior vice president of safety and regulatory affairs at Airports Council International – North America . “It’s limiting airports’ ability and true willingness to put a lot of their own infrastructure investment into a pretty significant unknown right now.” Airports are balancing upside with finite capital and unclear demand. Private investment is rising, and some state and regional authorities are accelerating planning. In Florida, Texas and the Midwest, airports are working with regional “This is innovating, speculative technology, so to get a clear picture on investment has been a challenging business case or justification for a lot of airports to arrive at.” – Chris Oswald, senior vice president of safety and regulatory affairs, Airports Council International - North America

Above: Emilien Marchand, director of ecosystem

partnerships at Wisk Aero says commercial airports are a natural node for AAM because people are used to having aircraft in the environment.

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AX NEWS APRIL/MAY 2026