Should Norfolk and Newport News airports be managed together? Former transportation secretary thinks so

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia’s former top transportation official is pushing for the creation a regional authority to oversee the operation of all airports in Hampton Roads in the hope of saving commercial air travel at Newport News Williamsburg Airport.

Earlier this month, a report analyzing the state of aviation in Hampton Roads concluded that maintaining commercial air service at Newport News-Williamsburg Airport (PHF) is financially unsustainable, and suggested the Peninsula Airport Commission change course and pursue nontraditional uses such as advanced air mobility to try to stave off millions of dollars in yearly losses.

However the report also took aim at the lack of coordination between all 10 of the public sector airports within southeast Virginia.

“The region lacks a focused single body that represents all airports, cites, and counties, leading to fragmented efforts and inefficiencies in promoting and developing aviation activities,” the analysis by USI Inc. and Swelbar Associates said.

Aubrey Layne, who served as the state’s Secretary of Transportation from 2014–2018, couldn’t agree more, and feels putting in place the authority recommendation could help better position PHF pursue new business in both new aviation technologies and traditional.

“Why wouldn’t we do what we’ve done in other transportation assets around the region here,” Layne said.

Currently, commercial air service is offered at two airports in the region: Norfolk International Airport (ORF) and Newport News-Williamsburg. The two are separated by Hampton Roads and 30 miles.

ORF has experienced record growth in recent years. The airport currently has eight commercial carriers and June was the busiest month in the airport’s history .

Meanwhile, PHF has racked up losses exceeding $4.2 million over one 17-month period in 2022 and 2023, and passenger traffic year-to-date has come in under projections. The airport has only five flights per day to Charlotte, currently provided by American Eagle.

“Over the years, like all the other airports in this Commonwealth, they’ve competed against each other,” Layne said. “The issue is, is that if you were to go ask most businesses in Hampton Roads, what’s the number one economic driver that could be improved here, that would be commercial air service.”

Norfolk is currently embarking on roughly $1 billion in renovations and additions in order to accommodate future growth.

PHF has nearly run through all its reserves, and if it runs out of money this fiscal year, it’ll be up to the taxpayers to make up the difference .

While consultants say cutting commercial air passenger service would likely lead to cost savings, Peninsula Airport Commission members are hesitant to do that for the reasons Layne mentioned.

“I personally believe the companies on the Peninsula should get air service,” Layne said. “They shouldn’t have to travel to Richmond or Norfolk, but they can’t do that unless they are coordinated.”

Currently, Norfolk’s airport is controlled by an authority made up of nine board members appointed by Norfolk City Council.

The airport in Newport News is controlled by a six-member commission appointed by Newport News and Hampton city councils.

Layne doesn’t think the cities need to give up their control, but he points to the success he’s seen through the coordination of other transportation assets such as rail travel, road projects and the Port of Virginia.

“If you look at our maritime industry, the ports, they used to be owned by all these localities,” Layne said. “Now they’re coordinated and run as one, the Port of Virginia, and quite frankly, that’s why the port is excelling now. It’s sustainable.”

Norfolk and Newport News also each have their own Amtrak stations, but are serviced by two separate lines. Both routes are overseen and funded with help of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.

Airlines currently see Hampton Roads as one market according to Layne. They don’t look at Norfolk and Newport News separately when making business decisions. He thinks if one management team oversaw both Norfolk and Newport News-Williamsburg, quite possibly, slots could be split up between the two.

“And that way, when we’re negotiating with airlines, you are negotiating from a position of strength as one region when you’re coordinating service,” Layne said. “For example, maybe if one airline has 10 flights a day to New York, six take off from Norfolk and four from the Peninsula.”

Forming an authority would take Virginia General Assembly approval and a lot of regional support.

Several key state lawmakers tell 10 On Your Side they have never been approached about the issue.

However, Tommy Garner, vice chair of the Peninsula Airport Commission, said discussions of sharing management between the two airports ocured within the last year.

“Two to three times a week, I was negotiating and talking with Mark Perryman of Norfolk Airport, about joining a joint-management agreement where he would be here certain days,” Garner said Thursday. “Talks fell apart because he said he didn’t think we should continue air service.”

Perryman, the CEO and president of the Norfolk Airport Authority, confirmed the account.

“I just don’t feel continuing commercial air service is sustainable,” Perryman said.

Perryman told his own board recently that airline industry complications are currently pausing the expansion of service at airports nationwide.

The Peninsula Airport Commission is now once again looking for a new executive director.

Layne, who as transportation secretary became very familiar with the airport when he determined funds were misspent to pay off a loan to a private airline , still has hope.

“I think they’ve got some hard decisions at Newport News,” Layne said. “I think they have good leadership in the board there. But with a view towards sustainability, I think the only thing they can do is diversify and take what I think is a really good commercial asset and have it benefit the region. To take that asset off the books, that would be a shame for Hampton Roads [and] for economic development.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.