Summer is my favorite time of year. It brings warmer weather, longer days and a wider array of fun things to do than any other season.

You know what else there’s more of in summer? Air travel. And this summer will not disappoint. Between our nation’s 250th anniversary, World Cup soccer and summer vacations, airports will have busy airfields, packed parking lots and plenty of action at concessions. And from what I’ve seen and read, you’re ready for the challenge.

As I’m writing this column and preparing the issue to go to press, Lisa and I are getting ready for a trip to Wisconsin. While there, we’ll have a busy schedule that includes a wedding, Brewers baseball games, live music at Summerfest and catching up with friends. It’s no coincidence that there’s more to do in the summer…and flying to where we want to be starts and ends at airports.

This issue of Airport Improvement reflects the state of growth that currently embodies our industry. Included are articles about capacity-enhancing terminal projects at BWI, ORF and SAT. The passenger lounge additions at DFW will blow your socks off. PDG and SFO share how private screening firms operating under federal oversight provide them with extra flexibility to safely and efficiently move more passengers than ever before.

But the summer of ’26 is not all sunscreen, mosquito spray and bowls of fresh cherries. Global conflicts, higher fuel prices and rising inflation are adding significant challenges. Despite that, the appeal of air travel remains resilient and shows little to no signs of slowing down. Advances in capacity, safety and the passenger experience are not just nice, they are essential for handling the traffic that this and future summers will bring.

Cheers!