[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6557144,"mediaKeyId","3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195","parentId",3315968,"title","Houston Airport System planning for eVTOLs, driverless vehicles and expanding Spaceport tenants","audioSeconds",632,"startMs",2008000,"endMs",2640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195&start=2008&end=2640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195/thumbnail_2008000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6557144/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Airport-System-planning-for-eVTOLs-driverless-vehicles-and-expanding-Spaceport-tenants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557144-270088b44e4378c7aabcfd0ec2846f3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172851&Signature=BqrR~AiKrW9Dqd3ESvMD0vCKfazXFsi32Ipmuz4yI227hyU6vnpsOEulgCDE9d8VawUvUUURMImluDtMOpjeRiDzopvCAkMP-xnWDGeAbatvExXqgpmqJ8GMitoZp9RGm2AG1i8tK1sWFF48kbqAKo8G5jKGtFjscoFdvA~36G5kkz7T8JLS-P4bNy9gJp79ZPi3uWJKKN~8bgpWHmQwa97A8rcgmo80yLJ~wdecyLbSEy1LDsE5nxI88M1a5OHVf8N47ZD5VM5F6kfaRl8~OAd8nt69D-GWSMDwrS21uMsPfV~0ZMBVPqlgwlp8dqz5~~4nVDjd8xwoVxZk6ofgOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Houston","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","Houston Airport System officials told council they are planning for multiple mobility and aerospace trends, including driverless rideshare vehicles, eVTOL aircraft and expanded spaceport activity.

Autonomous ground vehicles and driverless rideshares

Mayor Pro Tem Martha Castellanos and other council members asked about driverless ride services. Jim Sechniak said Houston is monitoring experiences in other markets, especially Phoenix, which has had Waymo operations at the airport for several years. Sechniak said the airport expects driverless operations to start in urban downtown zones first and to be incorporated into airport planning once operators establish a downtown presence.

eVTOLs and vertiport siting

On electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs), Sechniak said the airport is watching FAA certification timelines and would likely test demonstrations for major events such as the FIFA tournament. He said planners are studying peripheral siting options—car-rental campus and existing FBO/helicopter areas at Hobby and Ellington—to avoid interference with core runway traffic. The airport is conducting computer-based airspace simulation studies to test proposed locations and ensure eVTOL operations do not conflict with current arrivals and departures.

Spaceport and supplier development

Council members asked about the Spaceport and tenant growth. Sechniak said the airport is working to support existing tenants such as Acxiom and Intuitive Machines and is planning a multipurpose building for suppliers (smaller 10k–20k sq ft footprints). He said the airport is considering a developer-led model that minimizes the city’s financial risk while enabling supplier and tenant growth at the Spaceport.

Why it matters: FAA certification, airspace impacts and infrastructure siting will determine whether these technologies can scale at Houston airports without disrupting existing airfield operations. Officials emphasized a “do no harm” approach for Bush Intercontinental (IAH) given heavy existing traffic.

Ending

Airport staff said they will continue simulation studies, coordinate with FAA and other agencies, and may pursue demonstrations if certification and operational modeling allow.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Houston - Houston FY 2026 Budget Workshop: Houston Airport System - May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Airport leaders told council they are studying integration of autonomous ground vehicles, eVTOLs and spaceport tenant growth; they cited Phoenix and Los Angeles examples for operations and said FAA certification and airspace simulations will guide siting decisions.","taxTitle","Houston, Harris County, Texas","taxId",2797,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557150,"Council questions parking, rideshare fees and veterans’ parking as Houston Airport System nears rate limits",167,1736000,1903000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195&start=1736&end=1903","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195/thumbnail_1736000.jpg","/articles/6557150/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Council-questions-parking-rideshare-fees-and-veterans-parking-as-Houston-Airport-System-nears-rate-limits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557150-9db8550543cde4b6e1941f494f1841ef/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172851&Signature=CDqBsvZyGVn8NaCFBWczn7m7dMjhMctcowwp~9-vb-wTBYLWEgX7jAc3b7463ly3~~TDYnpAqk7T1sXCVNVHo4sYRCV7uKxH83GjlJdVb-ocFg~C-F0zBCOt0WSZYvRWkeK~nMt9CWI9PyFreG2F7HnJ7XLiaTpYMZoHje4uCA2DON6xbRfk4~T-hV1AoDP1xRBpktZDUlK1KRrxAY1Da8HMn4GzY0NAal~JfFpeNi86rfBqvRO9bxWfmeKi6YShFqD4S2GjUe3lll9-zjSTx~sPtIPbHll5jFXurghuaknAaZKqIaICqt3tIgr5BtmQPqpq3tSzxav~EO9tlMmGGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the budget workshop Vice Chair Castillo and council members asked detailed questions about parking policy, rideshare fees and veteran parking programs after airport staff presented FY26 revenue projections that rely heavily on parking gains.

Chapter 9 authorization and rate ranges

Jim Sechniak said parking rates for garages were set under Chapter 9 (city code) and that the airport generally requests a range when it seeks council authorization. The airport is close to the upper bound of its approved range for garage rates and will need to consult with council before proposing rate increases, Sechniak said. He told council the airport is focused on improving the parking experience before seeking higher rates.

Parking experience and performance metrics

Sechniak said recent equipment upgrades that enable frictionless entry (license-plate reading, account billing) and traffic improvements reduced congestion and sharply improved customer satisfaction on the airport’s CDE garage: the net promoter score moved from negative 35 to positive 35 after equipment and traffic-flow improvements.

Rideshare, peer-to-peer and off-airport parking

The airport charges a per-trip fee for rideshare operators; officials said the current fee is $3 per trip (applies to Uber, Lyft and similar operators). The airport does not collect a percentage of rideshare fares. The airport also said it settled issues with a peer-to-peer car platform (Turo) and is reassessing how that model should be regulated at airport facilities.

On off-airport lots, Sechniak said Houston’s revenue-share for remote parking operators is about 8% and that peer airports such as DFW operate at higher shares (he cited 12% at DFW), prompting conversations with off-site providers about fairness and market competitiveness.

Veterans’ parking

Sechniak said veterans traveling through the airport qualify for free parking but that limits apply. For garage use, the airport provides free veteran parking for up to seven days; some remote lots offer longer periods. He said the airport processed roughly 14,000 veteran parking transactions last year. Council members asked for additional data to evaluate the balance between free veteran parking and limited garage capacity.

Ending

Council members asked staff to review Chapter 9 rates and fees and to provide peer comparisons and data on veteran parking usage. Sechniak said staff is reviewing fees and will supply further information to council.","Council members pressed Houston Airport System leaders on garage rate ranges approved under Chapter 9, a $3 per-trip rideshare fee, off-airport parking revenue shares and the veteran-parking program during the FY26 budget workshop.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557154,"Houston Airport System to add incident command center, return to general manager model and reshape operations",108,183000,291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195&start=183&end=291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195/thumbnail_183000.jpg","/articles/6557154/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Airport-System-to-add-incident-command-center-return-to-general-manager-model-and-reshape-operations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557154-9f14de39c5014a580194c89567677952/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172851&Signature=UNWVLxEUVtS5x3isll46yKB0u9MB0kCcROtZWFYmFrepMpZisc2Od0Hmf2qcrRlRqfFvwXQXFlBPpzo0u4g3WlkYVEpQCQbo1kY6KxjaMViTUJNocamUqi3DfD9Xk1tzZIYcdI~u9WKNj--WniSU5SMHWg8Q3JQc0lfUq0ZaYnr~ljf8nUsOaf1v1BvI5-brnzTmWunLTt84bN8NH~1crBTopnXb3w~y8OsomVX46TCsJAh8yTrTnVGqrhNF8pdSu4ogikku2WmIcMm2qYYYgjrQE6AijUFwhDQksevXjd5cbfidxBR59IJPr6wv5p6TjN4jXUI7TAd-y~P6H0IQ~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Director Jim Sechniak told the council the Houston Airport System will restructure front-line operations to improve day-to-day oversight and emergency response. The plan includes opening an Incident Command Center (ICC) to bring call taking, TSA operations, maintenance dispatch, gate control and airfield operations into a single operations hub.

Sechniak said the airport will return to a general manager model at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport (Hobby) so senior staff can focus on systemwide strategy while on-site general managers handle daily terminal operations. The airport also plans to consolidate multiple employee groups into a single terminal-operations structure to break down work silos.

Personnel, buyouts and span of control

Sechniak said 370 employees were eligible for a buyout and that 102 accepted the offer — roughly 28% of those eligible — and that the April 20 budget included about 60 reductions valued at roughly $7,200,000. He said the organization’s average span of control will move from about five to six and that layers of management will be reduced from seven to six. Sechniak also said the airport plans to create a specialized airport and aviation planner classification.

Safety and emergency response

The ICC is expected to improve situational awareness and coordination by co-locating operations staff with TSA’s operational presence, maintenance dispatch, gate control and airfield operations. Sechniak said the ICC will include a designated command duty manager and subject-matter experts responsible for specialized systems to ensure proper contract oversight.

Why it matters: the changes are intended to speed decision-making on the ground, improve coordination during incidents and provide clearer career paths for front-line employees who work curbside and traffic operations.

Ending

Council members asked operational questions later in the session related to employee parking and career-path implications for curbside workers. Sechniak said the restructure is intended to improve daily operations and emergency response and that specific job classifications and staffing changes will be advanced through the normal personnel and budget processes.","Director Jim Sechniak outlined an organizational restructure that includes an incident command center to consolidate dispatch, TSA operations and gate control, a return to a general manager model at both airports, reduced management layers and a proposed specialized airport/aviation planner job classification.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6557158,"Houston Airport System proposes $738.7 million FY26 budget; moves Skyway and parking contracts into operating budget",377,367000,744000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195&start=367&end=744","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3315968-d086beae998fb3d334c3b7d5c1b3d195/thumbnail_367000.jpg","/articles/6557158/Houston/Harris-County/Texas/Houston-Airport-System-proposes-7387-million-FY26-budget-moves-Skyway-and-parking-contracts-into-operating-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6557158-b637ae68b7c9a23c597f3dc847665029/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172851&Signature=fxMumqDcjRYANPR4Z0ZgaUCxNZcOkdq9D-Is7bOjCbl7T2NzBYkrl3vkgB1ltbrMfOuUla-kpRfFw0JI~8XP~BqWoJwqTES2Mg1CdG4W0beUqieAicagDIpflXPvxCT8Z-KuIfvUNj2Z9gp2Zu9NoXqm9MwEa7xhT86k30c6s5FObgFb5uWVhh8oh5BS94TdVWU3x9lOAs-TyK~Y2JQPX~foiAmdy8os3l4slp09z0-B0lV6C2xc7wM4yHJmBaPJBBOaJKU6Dhk8SX7IthO9EdurqYspdvYGiI3fqw~Oro94gCh5WHIN5dVU8tx5SJgbPZZpsLBqd7dENTfuQbxN6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Houston Airport System Director Jim Sechniak and Chief Financial Officer Clint Steven told the City Council budget workshop that the airport system’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget projects $738,700,000 in total revenue, a 4.8% increase over the FY25 estimate, and that an accounting change will move roughly $62,800,000 in Skyway and parking contract costs from the airport’s AIF fund into its operating (O&M) budget.

The reclassification is intended to make recurring contract costs more transparent, Sechniak said, and to simplify questions from rating agencies and underwriters. “It looks like an expense. It smells like an expense, so we’re going to move it back into operating expense,” Clint Steven said during the presentation.

Why it matters: moving the Skyway maintenance and parking contracts into O&M makes those costs visible in the airport’s operating budget and creates an across-the-board increase in contracted services charges and O&M totals even though officials told council the underlying activity has not increased. The change also affects how debt-service offsets and amortizations appear in the budget documents shown to lenders and the public.

Key budget numbers and drivers

- Total proposed FY26 revenue: $738,700,000 (projected 4.8% increase).
- O&M expenditures budgeted at $476,000,000 (a reported 22.3% increase versus FY25 estimate); officials said $62,800,000 of that increase is the Skyway and parking contract reclassification.
- Personnel budget: approximately $150,000,000 (personnel costs projected to decrease by about $3,000,000 due to retirements and vacancies).
- Non-personnel budget: approximately $326,000,000; other contracted services line item includes the reclassified contracts.
- Federal grants and capital: the airport reported about $186,000,000 in federal grants awarded with roughly $169–170 million remaining to be spent; those grants are recorded in the capital program rather than the O&M budget.

Revenue detail and recent performance

Clint Steven attributed the revenue increase to higher enplanements, terminal rents from new facilities (D West Concourse and the new international central processing facility), and increased parking utilization. Officials noted parking revenue is the airport’s single largest nonairline revenue source and is projected to rise by roughly $7,000,000. Retail and concession revenue has also exceeded expectations, with new concessions at Hobby and the D West Pier performing strongly; staff highlighted one concession (“the Rustic” at Hobby) that generated about $1,000,000 in a single month, a record for the airport.

Landing fees were noted as an area where FY25 actuals trailed projections because of differing aircraft mix and cargo trends: some carriers moved to larger aircraft (more passengers on fewer aircraft), which reduced landed weight and therefore landing-fee revenue compared with earlier forecasts.

Accounting and presentation changes

Officials told council that the accounting change will cause O&M totals to appear higher year over year but said the underlying economics remain consistent once the reclassification is understood. Steven explained the decision as an effort to align Houston’s budget presentation with common industry practice and reduce repeated adjustments when speaking with rating agencies.

Ending

Council members asked follow-up questions about where federal grants are reflected (capital budget) and about individual line items including commercial development and contractual flows. Sechniak and Steven said they will provide additional breakdowns and follow-up documents to council staff. The airport will return for additional budget workshops as the council continues its review process.","Houston Airport System Director Jim Sechniak and CFO Clint Steven presented a fiscal year 2026 budget that projects $738.7 million in total revenue and reclassifies about $62.8 million in Skyway and parking contract costs from AIF to O&M, a change officials say is meant to increase transparency.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Houston Airport System planning for eVTOLs, driverless vehicles and expanding Spaceport tenants

Council questions parking, rideshare fees and veterans’ parking as Houston Airport System nears rate limits

Houston Airport System to add incident command center, return to general manager model and reshape operations

Houston Airport System proposes $738.7 million FY26 budget; moves Skyway and parking contracts into operating budget