WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today welcomed the final rule publication of “Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Implementation Modifications” by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The rule makes important updates to how U.S. airports engage and support historically marginalized business enterprises in local communities.
“Airports are powerful engines of economic growth for local communities, including the many minority and women owned businesses that provide essential services and products to U.S. airports,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “It is important to ensure these regulations address new and emerging challenges and seize new opportunities to support the disadvantaged business enterprises that employ so many people across the United States and provide for an enhanced passenger experience in air travel. We appreciate the U.S. Department of Transportation’s diligent efforts throughout this rule making effort and look forward to our continued collaboration as the new rule takes effect and is implemented.”
For more than 40 years, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program has increased minority and women owned business opportunities within the U.S. airport industry.
In June 2021, ACI-NA petitioned DOT and the Federal Aviation Administration to make timely updates and modifications to the ACDBE program to better address current challenges. Working through ACI-NA’s Business Diversity, Commercial Management, Finance and Legal Affairs Committees, ACI-NA filed comments with DOT in October 2021. ACI-NA’s comments are available here.
2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement
Giving back to the community is central to what Charlotte Douglas International Airport and its operator, the City of Charlotte Aviation Department, is about, and last year was no different.
Throughout 2022, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, we continued our efforts to have a positive impact on the Charlotte community. Of particular note, we spent the year sharing stories of how Connections Don't Just Happen at the Terminal - from creating homeownership and employment opportunities to supporting economic growth through small-business development and offering outreach programs to help residents understand the Airport better.
This whitepaper highlights the construction projects, initiatives, programs and events that validate Charlotte Douglas as a premier airport.
Download the whitepaper: 2022 Charlotte Douglas International Airport Report of Achievement.