Tenants at Shreveport’s Downtown Airport (DTN) have been up in arms for quite some time over the management, or lack thereof, of this facility by the Shreveport Airport Authority (SAA).
Complaints range from maintenance of the terminal facility and the airport grounds to treatment of hanger owners who lease the airport property for their hangers.
Shreveport mayor Adrian Perkins has attempted unsuccessfully to replace two SAA board members with individuals closely associated with DTN.
Many airplane owners are considering moving their planes out of DTN rather than continually deal with SAA personnel.
An option that has not been considered is privatizing the DTN. In other words put the facility up for sale.
Sale of the downtown facility will require the approval of the SAA, the city council and the Federal Aviation Agency.
Its an idea that is worth considering. The city of Shreveport really does not need to own two airports, and sale proceeds could be utilized to bolster the city’s inadequate reserves.
Although the airport is in Shreveport city limits, the location is in Bossier Parish. Privatization would provide ad valorem tax revenues to Shreveport and Bossier Parish.