Airport & Aviation

Airport Rates — Use and Lease Agreements and Rate Ordinances

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We structure, prepare, and negotiate use and lease agreements to establish flexible business and operating relationships with your airline tenants and users. We also help draft and structure ratemaking ordinances at the conclusion of long-term use and lease agreements. We understand both the legal requirements relating to ratemaking and the airport’s need to maintain a rate per passenger that is attractive for both existing and new carriers.

For example, over the past few years, we have worked with three airports, a large hub, a medium hub, and a small hub, to develop new ratemaking methodologies. The concerns and requirements of the three airports differ greatly in certain respects, and are remarkably similar in others. We helped these clients develop a structure that meets their unique needs. Our attorneys have prepared and negotiated new use agreements, and amendments to existing agreements, for many U.S. airports and negotiated leases with most major carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Federal Express, Jet Blue, Southwest, United, US Airways, and Virgin Atlantic.