RICHMOND — Richmond International Airport was recently named the Most Efficient Airport in North America under five million passengers per year by the Air Transport Research Society.
The airport received the award at the organization’s 26th World Conference in Kobe, Japan on July 2. It is the airport’s first award from the aviation research society.
“We are thrilled to win this award and we could not have done it without our fantastic team,” said Perry J. Miller, President and CEO of Richmond International Airport (RIC). “We’ve been an economic engine for our region for almost a century — generating about $2.1 billion in economic impact per year — and it’s because everyone here is committed to delivering an extraordinary travel experience. We want the world to know what RIC and the Greater Richmond region has to offer.”
According to the airport, the award is granted based on performance indicators including productivity and operating/management efficiency, airport charge comparisons, among others.
It noted in 2021, the airport began facility updates to welcome international travel, including the now-complete Concourse A expansion, preparing for additional ramp space, and customs upgrades to meet global travel protocols.
Last year, RIC was named the Best Little Big Airport in the world by Business Focus Magazine, and this year, it has increased its direct service options by 36%, it said.
“If you have the same flight pattern, you’ll keep arriving at the same destination,” explained Miller. “We are laying new groundwork to grow as an airport of choice, one that leads the way in the future of our industry. This means a lot of exciting projects in the works, like making flights available to Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Japan, and building a hands-on facility where the future generation of workers can learn about the aviation industry. If you think we’ve done great things so far, you’ll be thrilled to see what’s on the horizon.”
According to its website, the Air Transport Research Society (ATRS) is a global nonprofit organization that aims to provide networking opportunities among air transport researchers.
“RIC has had a direct impact on local business vitality, resident happiness, and increased tourism spending,” said Frank Thornton, Chairman of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors. “And you can see that they’re not content to rest on their laurels; they’re deliberately taking steps to improve. For instance, the addition of new and affordable nonstop options to popular destinations like San Francisco and New Orleans has moved the needle for RIC — and for us as a region.”
