Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport received approval from the Atlanta City Council to establish an air service incentive program as a way to stimulate international air cargo and passenger growth.
The program is projected to cost up to US$2 million (1.4 million euros) annually over the next five years.
“With this new incentive program, Hartsfield-Jackson will be better positioned to attract additional passenger and cargo carriers to Atlanta,” Hartsfield-Jackson interim general manager Miguel Southwell said. “As the world’s busiest airport, we are continually looking at ways to grow new routes and expand our cargo capacity, and this will certainly boost our global competitiveness.”
Hartsfield-Jackson was the No. 32 cargo airport in the world in 2012.
The purpose of the program is to stimulate air service, particularly along routes that link Atlanta to cities located in countries that have some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and air cargo traffic.
The incentive program, which will begin this summer, will waive landing fees for one year for airlines starting new international routes not already served from Atlanta, as well as provide cargo carriers the opportunity to qualify for a waiver of aircraft parking fees at Hartsfield-Jackson’s cargo areas.
Additional waivers and incentives, such as a two-year waiver of landing fees, will be offered to carriers starting service to one of the five major emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China or South Africa – while carriers starting service to Africa, Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia will also receive extra consideration.
Total fee waivers and promotional funds will be capped at US$2 million (1.4 million euros) a year on a first-come, first-served basis.