Burke Lakefront Airport threatened with closure

AOPA has worked to protect the airport—strategically perched on the shore of Lake Erie—by highlighting its many contributions to the local economy, for decades. Local officials eyed redevelopment in 2002, and repeated the exercise more than 20 years later, when AOPA once again highlighted the many benefits that the airport provides to the community.

While the decades change, the arguments for and against the airport’s continuation remain much the same. The first of two recent studies, released in October 2022 and revised in March, is the “Airport Layout Plan (ALP) Narrative Report” by CHA Consulting Inc. It was followed by “Valuing Burke Lakefront Airport” by EConsult Solutions Inc. The ESI report, commissioned by and submitted to the city at the end of August, outlines three future development scenarios: a minimal development “focusing on recreational and green spaces,” a maximum development “including a 170-acre park, 30 acres of playing fields, 1,200 residential units, 100,000 square feet of retail and a 100-room boutique hotel,” and a hybrid development, which would allow the airport to remain open with the addition of a 100-room boutique hotel.

The city is required to prove that closing the airport would benefit the aviation system.

“These studies are crucial in helping us understand the feasibility and potential benefits of transforming Burke Lakefront Airport into a space that better serves our community,” Bibb said in a September 16 announcement.

Both studies determined most of the jobs at the airport were transferable to other facilities and that general aviation traffic would likely shift to other airports in the county—averting net losses. However, neighboring airports lack additional hangar space and have no capacity for the potential relocation of Burke’s tenants.

Both studies point out that trying to close an airport is at best complicated and comes with significant financial penalties. The Cleveland National Air Show, for example, typically draws more than 100,000 spectators, and would likely cease its operation as it is totally dependent on the airport because of its space and safety requirements. The show generates an estimated $7.1 million benefit to Cleveland annually.

The city would have to fulfill its remaining grant obligations to the FAA and the Ohio Department of Transportation, totaling approximately $10 million. Additionally, Signature Flight Support would have to be compensated for its $16.5 million investment in recent infrastructure upgrades. Demolishing the airport buildings, runways, taxiways, and apron pavement, and restoring them with alternative material would cost another $15.3 million. As the airport was also built on a landfill, a thorough site investigation would be necessary arising from the potentially hazardous materials from toxic river dredgings along with any environmental mitigation costs for making the land viable for residential development.

“While the mayor may spin these reports as pathways for closure, the reality is these studies offer a gut check to the city of Cleveland, proving the airport is better left as an airport. There should be more investment in BKL from federal, state, and local sources to strengthen its economic viability for the city of Cleveland and the aeronautical users of the United States,” said AOPA Great Lakes Regional Manager Kyle Lewis.

The city is obligated by grant agreements to maintain and operate the airport in a safe manner until 2036. The CHA report estimates that maintaining pavement will cost $2.5 million during that time, not adjusted for inflation. Additional pavement and runway rehabilitation would bring the total to more than $5 million. In addition, a decision to close the airport would likely reduce revenue as businesses leave the airport ahead of the planned closure, requiring the city to make up the difference to comply with its obligations.

“AOPA will continue to monitor the situation and be proactive in supporting the needs of the airport while seeking to support proposals to further invest in BKL as a major contributor to the local economy of the greater Cleveland region,” said Lewis. “Protecting our GA airports from closure will always be one of our top advocacy priorities.”