Newport News mayor says city will provide $4M to keep airport operating
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) — The commission overseeing the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport is officially asking for help from the taxpayers to keep the operation funded through June 2026.
In a meeting of the Peninsula Airport Commission last Thursday, the board voted unanimously to make a request of the city of Newport News to provide funds to close the more than $4 million shortfall it faces for the 2026 fiscal year.
After six years of financial losses, it's projected the commission will only have $1.4 million left in unrestricted cash by the end of June. The airport's proposed FY 2026 budget anticipates spending $2.7 million more than it will bring in.
Mayor Phillip Jones informed commission members during the meeting that the city had committed to the funding.
However, it appears not all his fellow City Council members were aware that commitment had been made.
Report: Maintaining commercial air service at Newport News Williamsburg Airport financially unsustainable
'The city of Newport News remains committed to supporting the Peninsula Airport Commission with a total contribution of $4 million for Fiscal Year 2026. This includes $3 million dedicated to operations and up to $1 million allocated for current capital projects. The appropriate funding source will be identified at that time based on feasibility and availability. Depending on the source of the funding, separate appropriation by City Council may not be required. This approach provides the city with the flexibility to meet its commitment in the most responsible and efficient manner. Should there be any changes or developments, we will be sure to keep you informed.'
— Mayor Phillip Jones and Alan K. Archer, City Manager
The nearly 80-year-old airport that straddles the line between Newport News and York County is governed by the commission, made up of representatives from both Newport News and Hampton.
While the airfield, also known as Patrick Henry Field (PHF), was home to multiple commercial carriers and saw around 1.1 million passengers travel through in 2010, 2024 saw 142,000 passengers fly on one airline.
American Airlines is now running four to five direct flights to Charlotte on 50-seat Embraer 145 jets.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many airports across the country of PHF's size faced issues due to shortages of pilots and flight support staff of the major airlines, according to the airport's recent audit.
'It led to a greater concentration of passenger traffic to the airports capable of attracting and handling larger and more fully-loaded aircraft,' an audit completed by Cherry Bekaert stated.
In Hampton Roads, that means neighboring Norfolk International Airport, less than 30 miles south, which saw a record 4.8 million travelers in 2024.
A 2024 study from aviation experts suggested the airport cut ties with commercial service in order to save money and instead pursue non-traditional aviation uses, such unmanned flight and advanced air mobility.
However Lindsey Carney-Smith, the commission chair, has maintained 'we are not getting rid of commercial air service,' pointing to people who enjoy the service. Instead, she has said the airport will pursue non-traditional uses alongside commercial air service.
Under the airport's charter with the Commonwealth of Virginia, taxpayers of the commission's member municipalities are responsible to make up any deficient. However, Carney-Smith said since the airport is in Newport News, the city would take the lead on subsidizing the operation.
In a joint statement to 10 On Your Side Monday, Jones and City Manager Alan Archer detailed their plan to financially support the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport.
The statement detailed $3 million would be for operations, while $1 million would be set aside for capital projects. The 1992 terminal building roof is scheduled to be replaced in the coming year.
However, both council members Marcellus Harris and Cleon Long said that level of financial commitment is not something they have had communicated to them yet.
'We are committed to finding out what the next thing at the airport is going to look like,' Harris said Monday. 'As far as money commitment, we are still in discussions from what I understand.'
Long echoed much of Harris' comments.
'If there is any allocation of funds, [City Council] would have a discussion on it,' Long said.
While Jones declined an interview request, he did say in the previous Tuesday's council work session that discussions on the airport's future would continue.
However, in his statement, he indicated 'depending on the source of the funding, separate appropriation by City Council may not be required.'
The FY 2026 Newport News budget as passed by council does not include line item allocations to the airport. Under Virginia Code, municipal budgets can be amended without council approval, as long as the funds are less than 1% of the overall budget.
This means the taxpayers may not have the chance to weigh-in on the proposal.
Should Newport News Williamsburg airport cut passenger service? What mayors are saying, and aren't saying
Newport News will be far from the only local municipality to use tax money to fund airport operations. The cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Franklin also send annual payments to airfields within their boundaries.
However, Newport News' proposed payment will be more than 11 times that of average payment to the municipal airports.
The future of the Newport News-Williamsburg Airport has long been a political conundrum for the city.
In 2017, Virginia temporarily cut the amount of money send to the airport after the then-transportation secretary determined funds were misspent to pay off a loan to a private airline.
Known as the People's Express scandal, it landed the airport in negative headlines, Newport News' city manager out of a job, a criminal conviction for the airport's former executive director and jail time for a former airline executive.
The airport's most recent executive director was terminated in February 2023, and while Carney-Smith initially had hoped to have a new one hired by last Fall, she said 'family matters' kept that applicant from taking the job.
She is hopeful to make an announcement of a hire soon.
Others, such as former Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne, is backing a single authority to be created to run both commercial airports in the region.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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