NEWPORT NEWS — Newport News City Council recently announced it has invested $4 million to support the evolution of the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport into a future-ready Air Commerce Park.
The city says that the investment reflects its long-term vision to reposition PHF as a hub for economic growth and high-wage job creation, while responding to recent research that “confirms the challenges presented by traditional commercial air service at the airport due to significant changes as a result of industry trends like airline consolidation, route optimization, and technological advances.”
The investment includes $3 million to cover essential operational costs and up to $1 million for capital projects aligned with the airport’s strategic shift.
The city continued by saying that a recent Hampton Roads Air Market Study recommended a shift from solely focusing on commercial air service to diversifying aviation and aeronautical uses and revenue streams to include cargo logistics, advanced air mobility, and aircraft manufacturing and final assembly.
“This investment reflects our commitment to building a 21st-century economy,” said Mayor Phillip Jones. “By transforming PHF into an Air Commerce Park, we’re positioning Newport News as a hub for innovation, logistics, and advanced mobility. This effort will complement the cutting-edge work at Jefferson Lab and the strength of our shipbuilding industry, creating high-demand jobs and driving long-term regional growth.”
On June 24, Newport News City Council amended the Fiscal Year 2025 General Fund Operating Budget. The funding provided an additional $23 million to support development projects, future initiatives, and operations to include the investment for PHF.
In addition to the city’s investment, the city garnered support from U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, having secured $6 million in federal funding for the Peninsula Airport Commission (PAC) to reconstruct 6,500 feet of existing taxiways at PHF.
The city says that it expects the transformation into an Air Commerce Park to preserve dozens of existing jobs while opening the door to hundreds of future opportunities in sectors like air manufacturing and final assembly, eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing), logistics, and aerospace R&D (research and development).
“We appreciate the city council’s continued support, which is critical as we work to position PHF as a catalyst for economic growth,” said Lindsey Carney, chair of the PAC. “We are focused on attracting forward-thinking partners who see the airport as a launchpad for innovation and high-tech workforce development.”
The Peninsula Airport Commission, in coordination with local and state economic development agencies, has already begun laying the groundwork for the airport’s evolution, the city said. Investments in infrastructure, air cargo readiness, and strategic land use planning are helping prepare PHF to serve as a multimodal commerce gateway for the region.
An announcement is forthcoming regarding airport staffing and operational structure, it added.
For more information, visit peninsulaairportcommission.org.