Over 50 Cleveland Leaders Advocate to City Council: Preserve Burke Lakefront Airport
The debate regarding the fate of Burke Lakefront Airport (BKL) in Cleveland, Ohio, has escalated. This week, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) acknowledged a robust new coalition effort opposing Mayor Justin Bibb’s proposal to permanently shut down the facility. Over 50 local business leaders, along with numerous citizens and civic voices, have penned letters imploring the Cleveland City Council to dismiss the closure proposition and convene a public hearing to discuss the airport’s future.
A group comprising aviation professionals, businesses, and students contends that BKL is an indispensable economic catalyst. It provides direct access to downtown Cleveland, managing nearly 50,000 flights annually, and acts as an essential conduit for budding pilots and aviation technicians. Major organizations such as the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), and International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) are among those opposing the closure.
The airport also hosts the cherished Cleveland National Air Show, which attracts over 85,000 attendees each year and contributes an estimated $17.9 million to the local economy. Mayor Bibb’s plan, supported by the Port of Cleveland, contemplates the redevelopment of the 450-acre lakefront site. However, aviation advocates argue that this would necessitate congressional approval and could potentially burden taxpayers with hundreds of millions in redevelopment expenses.
Source: NBAA – NBAA Welcomes Cleveland Coalition’s Call to Keep Burke Lakefront Airport Open