At its monthly board meeting last week, Wyoming’s Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) postponed its decision to issue an RFP for a second FBO while it considers purchasing the existing FBO there.
Under FAA guidelines, the airport must accommodate a second service provider for the first time in two decades when its new fuel facility becomes operational in mid-2018. A company operating as Wyoming Jet Center has already applied. The FAA, however, provides an exemption to the mandate in situations where the airport operator itself chooses to exclusively own and operate the FBO, as was suggested by the existing service provider, Jackson Hole Aviation.
JAC is prohibited by its lease with Grand Teton National Park to build outside of a 28-acre developmental parcel, much of which is already occupied by the airport’s terminal, parking areas and other facilities, and the airport board is weighing if its purchase of the FBO will conserve scarce airport land by avoiding the construction of duplicate facilities, as well as provide it with an additional revenue source.
As a result, the matter was pushed back to the September board meeting, when it expects to decide on whether to issue the RFP for a second FBO or purchase the existing facility.