NATA Welcomes Federal Support for Burke Lakefront Airport

NATA (the National Air Transportation Association) welcomes Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford's support for preserving Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) and the aviation capacity it provides to Cleveland, Northeast Ohio, and the National Airspace System.

The FAA's position aligns with what NATA has emphasized throughout the discussion surrounding Burke's future: once aviation infrastructure and capacity are lost, they are nearly impossible to replace. Any decision about the airport's future should follow statutory FAA processes and carefully consider BKL's contribution to aviation safety, workforce development, essential services, and local economic development - as well as future potential for advanced air mobility (AAM) and increased regional air service.

NATA has been actively engaged on this issue alongside its members and industry partners through discussions with Ohio congressional offices, FAA leaders, local aviation businesses, and community stakeholders, as well as participation in advocacy events at Burke Lakefront Airport. Throughout that work, NATA has emphasized Burke's role as an FAA-designated reliever airport supporting business aviation, medical transport, flight training, local jobs, and regional connectivity.

"Administrator Bedford's comments reinforce the importance of looking at Burke Lakefront Airport through the lens of both Cleveland's future and the nation's long-term aviation needs," said NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. "The opportunity now is to consider how Burke can continue to evolve, strengthen its value to the region, and meet future aviation needs."

NATA also supports statements by Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) that politicians should not override FAA expertise and by Senator John Husted (R-OH) that any changes to BKL should go through traditional FAA processes. The FAA's master plan process provides a pathway for comprehensive, safety-driven planning for federally-obligated airports like BKL.

As a recipient of FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants as recently as 2019, the City of Cleveland is legally obligated to maintain BKL as a public-use airport for the next 20 years, in addition to its legal commitment to several long-term lease agreements with aviation businesses on the field. These Congressionally mandated grant assurances safeguard federal and private investment alike by protecting taxpayer money and providing stability for private investors.

"As the federal government invests in much-needed modernization of our nation's air traffic control system, protecting aviation infrastructure like Burke and maintaining general aviation access to the entire airport network is a critical part of the conversation," Castagna said.

NATA will continue working with federal, state, and local leaders and Cleveland-area aviation and community stakeholders to advance a future for BKL that preserves its aviation capacity while expanding the value the airport brings to the City of Cleveland and the Northeast Ohio region.