DECEMBER 2018
CHAPTER 2:
Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-1
AVIATION ACTIVITY ANALYSIS AND FORECAST
Introduction
This chapter presents an air service market evaluation, an analysis of historical trends, and 20-year forecasts
of commercial and noncommercial aviation activity. Commercial aviation activity includes passenger and all-
cargo service. Noncommercial activity includes general aviation (GA) and military operations. The air service
market study estimates the “True Market” for Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) by evaluating market
trends to explore the potential for air service expansion. The identification of market trends is the result of
analyzing current airline service, assessing airline performance, and comparing RNO with other airports that
provide air service within the region. The analysis of historical trends provides the context for the
development of the forecasts and informs model specifications and assumptions. The forecasts will serve as
the basis for subsequent analyses in the Master Plan, such as the assessment of facility requirements,
demand/capacity analysis, development of a 20-year capital improvement plan, and environmental impact
analysis. The details of the proposed forecasting approaches are described below. The resulting forecasts are
compared with the latest Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Area Forecast (TAF) for RNO.
Air Service Market Evaluation
In support of the aviation forecast for RNO, an air service evaluation helped to develop the true market
estimate. The true market estimate gives RNO the most useful information about local passenger travel
patterns relative to commercial airline service. This air service market evaluation comprises a true market
estimate, market performance, and route performance studied for seven of the eight airlines serving
passengers at RNO, listed in Table 2-1 below. Volaris, as a non-domestic provider, is not required to report
commercial passenger activity through U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
The air service market evaluation section will briefly describe the methodology and the catchment area used
in the evaluation and will highlight the trends from the collected data through the year ending (YE) June 30,
2016. This section also addresses the service gaps and opportunities presented for RNO, concluding with the
overview of the opportunities for both incumbent and new airlines.
True Market Estimate
The primary objective of this evaluation was to develop
information on the travel patterns of passengers who
live in the area.
The analysis relied on a combination of Airline Reporting
Corporation (ARC) tickets (catchment area and online
travel agencies) and U.S. DOT data, calculating the true
market for the year end (YE) June 30, 2016. This data did
not capture tickets issued directly by airline websites,
and the survey sample consisted of 44,664 tickets, which
is consistent with industry survey standards.
Table 2-1: Airlines Serving Passengers at RNO
Airline
Abbreviation
Alaska
AS
Allegiant
G4
American
AA
Delta
DL
JetBlue
B6
Southwest
WN
United
UA
Volaris
Y4
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-2
The catchment area is defined as the geographic
area where RNO can reasonably expect to draw
passenger traffic and is representative of the local
market. This is significant because it includes the
population of travelers who ideally should use RNO
based on the drive time. RNO’s primary catchment
area, shown in Figure 2-1, comprises 92 zip codes,
and had a 2016 population of 776,930.
The true market summary is calculated by looking at
the actual passenger use versus the total
passengers eligible to use the airport based on the
catchment area. RNO had a true market of
3,665,693 origin and destination (O&D) passengers,
shown in Table 2-2, which is 5,021 total passengers
daily each way (PDEW), meaning an estimated 279
PDEW use alternate airports.
The overall true market number represents 93
percent domestic travel and seven percent
international travel. RNO retained 94 percent of
total passengers, as shown in Figure 2-2, which
equaled 96 percent of domestic travel, and 75
percent of international retention.
Table 2-2: True Market Summary
Rank Origin Airport
YE 2Q 2016
PAX %
Domestic
1 RNO 3,281,368 96
2 Sacramento (SMF) 80,690 2
3 San Francisco (SFO)
63,133 2
Subtotal 3,425,192 100
International
1 RNO 180,662 75
2 SFO 50,109 21
3 SMF 9,730 4
Subtotal 240,501 100
Domestic and International
1 RNO 3,462,030 94
2 SFO 113,242 3
3 SMF 90,420 3
Total 3,665,693 100
Source: Mead & Hunt, Inc.; YE June 30, 2016
RNO
94%
SFO
3%
SMF
3%
Figure 2-2: True Market Summary
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) &
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Figure 2
-
1:
RNO Primary Catchment Area 2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-3
Table 2-3 lists the top 25 domestic destinations. The top five domestic markets included McCarran
International Airport in Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Phoenix Sky Harbor
International Airport (PHX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), and San Diego International Airport
(SAN). Las Vegas was the top market with 435,015 annual passengers or 599 PDEW. Of note, the top 25
markets generate 65 percent of total air travel, and in the analysis, markets with nonstop service tended to
have a higher retention rate than markets without nonstop service.
Table 2-4 lists the top 15 international destinations. These markets were estimated at 240,501 annual
passengers or 329 PDEW. Within these markets, the top three were Los Cabos International Airport (SJD),
Cancun International Airport (CUN), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR). RNO retention rates were
much lower internationally, due in part to the service at RNO primarily being domestic, as well as RNO’s
relative proximity to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and their significant international service.
Table 2-5 shows the top 50 true markets ranked by destination, illustrates RNO’s O&D passengers to each
destination, and lists RNO’s totals for domestic, international, and all markets within these top 50 including
the retention/diversion estimates for each.
Table 2-3: Top 25 Domestic Destinations
Rank Destination
Origin Airport %
Total
Pax
RNO SMF SFO
1 Las Vegas, NV LAS 99 0 0 435,015
2 Los Angeles, CA LAX 97 1 1 288,235
3 Phoenix, AZ PHX 97 2 1 193,021
4 Seattle-Tacoma, WA SEA 91 6 3 179,347
5 San Diego, CA SAN 99 0 1 160,718
6 Denver, CO DEN 99 1 1 147,844
7 Portland, OR PDX 95 3 1 105,088
8 New York JFK, NY JFK 93 2 4 98,179
9 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX DFW 93 4 3 72,435
10 Salt Lake City, UT SLC 96 3 2 69,243
11 Chicago O’Hare, IL ORD 95 2 4 64,998
12 San Jose, CA SJC 100 0 0 52,012
13 Boston, MA BOS 90 2 7 51,915
14 Minneapolis, MN MSP 96 2 2 47,933
15 Orange County, CA SNA 99 0 1 46,022
16 Orlando, FL MCO 94 4 2 45,255
17 Atlanta, GA ATL 94 4 2 42,560
18 Chicago Midway, IL MDW 99 0 0 42,056
19 Austin, TX AUS 97 1 2 38,094
20 Philadelphia, PA PHL 90 7 3 35,370
21 Baltimore, MD BWI 96 3 1 35,220
22 Washington Reagan, DC DCA 96 2 2 32,943
23 Detroit, MI DTW 97 2 1 32,418
24 Houston Bush, TX IAH 98 1 1 32,351
25 Newark, NJ EWR 89 2 9 30,399
Top 25 Domestic 96 2 2 2,378,670
Total Domestic 96 2 2 3,425,192
Source: Mead & Hunt, Inc.; YE June 30, 2016
Sacramento International Airport (SMF), San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-4
Table 2-4: Top 15 International Destinations
Rank Destination
Origin Airport %
Total
Pax
RNO SFO SMF
1 San Jose del Cabo, Mexico SJD 94 4 2 13,952
2 Cancun, Mexico CUN 87 7 6 13,552
3 Vancouver, Canada YVR 90 6 3 11,244
4 Toronto, Canada YYZ 91 6 3 9,998
5 Mexico City, Mexico MEX 87 4 8 9,553
6 London Heathrow, UK LHR 78 19 3 8,482
7 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico PVR 91 7 3 7,708
8 Guadalajara, Mexico GDL 87 2 11 5,746
9 Manila, Philippines MNL 61 39 0 4,458
10 Calgary, Canada YYC 90 5 5 4,436
11 Montreal, Canada YUL 85 14 1 4,189
12 San Jose, Costa Rica SJO 77 14 9 3,873
13 Frankfurt, Germany FRA 73 26 1 3,868
14 Paris De Gaulle, France CDG 77 22 1 3,815
15 Dublin, Ireland DUB 70 28 2 3,437
Top 15 International 85 12 4 128,080
Total International 75 21 4 240,501
Source: Mead & Hunt, Inc.; YE June 30, 2016
Analysis of Current Airline Service (Market Performance)
This section highlights traffic and capacity trends, revenue and fare trends, and the O&D revenue market
share by airline. The section also highlights regional comparisons for the domestic market based on YE 2Q
2016.
As far as traffic and capacity trends, YE 2Q 2016 year-over-year capacity was up six percent and passengers
were up eight percent, as Figure 2-3 shows. These factors drove a one percentage point increase in load
factor (percent of seats sold), with capacity (total available seats) and passengers (traveling public) trending
positively. As far as revenue and fare trends, origin and destination revenue were increasing with fares
remaining stable, and RNO fares continue to be lower than the U.S. average, as shown in Figure 2-4.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-5
Table 2-5: Top 50 Domestic Destinations
Rank Destination
RNO O&D
Passengers
Retention %
Diverting Pax
Total PAX
SFO
SMF
1
Las Vegas, NV
LAS
432,402
99
1,900
713
435,015
2
Los Angeles, CA
LAX
280,401
97
3,590
4,243
288,235
3
Phoenix, AZ
PHX
187,274
97
2,612
3,135
193,021
4
Seattle
-
Tacoma, WA
SEA
161,860
90
5,106
12,381
179,347
5
San Diego, CA
SAN 159,121 99 925 672 160,718
6
Denver, CO
DEN
145,942
99
1,122
779
147,844
7
Portland, OR
PDX 99,595 95 1,630 3,863 105,088
8
New York JFK, NY
JFK
91,199
93
4,653
2,327
98,179
9
Dallas
-
Fort Worth, TX
DFW 67,031 93 2,252 3,152 72,435
10
Salt Lake City, UT
SLC
66,057
95
1,136
2,050
69,243
11
Chicago O’Hare, IL
ORD 61,384 94 2,409 1,205 64,998
12
San Jose, CA
SJC
52,012
100
0
0
52,012
13
Boston, MA
BOS
46,462
89
4,240
1,213
51,915
14
Minneapolis, MN
MSP 45,898 96 1,035 1,000 47,933
15
Orange County, CA
SNA
45,347
99
450
225
46,022
16
Orlando, FL
MCO 42,361 94 1,109 1,785 45,255
17
Atlanta, GA
ATL
40,071
94
783
1,705
42,560
18
Chicago Midway, IL
MDW 41,831 99 104 121 42,056
19
Austin, TX
AUS
36,915
97
646
533
38,094
20
Philadelphia, PA
PHL 31,542 89 1,268 2,559 35,370
21
Baltimore, MD
BWI
33,591
95
391
1,238
35,220
22
Washington Reagan, DC
DCA
31,672
96
694
576
32,943
23
Detroit, MI
DTW
31,420
97
426
571
32,418
24
Houston Bush, TX
IAH
31,714
98
182
455
32,351
25
Newark, NJ
EWR 26,522 87 3,064 813 30,399
26
Houston
Hobby
, TX
HOU
28,233
100
0
0
28,233
27
San Antonio, TX
SAT
27,681
99
222
74
27,977
28
Honolulu, HI
HNL
23,034
85
1,430
2,528
26,993
29
St. Louis, MO
STL
25,224
94
607
1,040
26,871
30
Nashville, TN
BNA
25,596
96
0
1,131
26,727
31
Tampa, FL
TPA
25,466
96
81
867
26,413
32
Kansas City, MO
MCI
25,608
98
160
337
26,105
33
Ontario, CA
ONT
24,624
99
88
184
24,896
34
San Francisco, CA
SFO
24,762
100
0
0
24,762
35
Fort
Lauderdale, FL
FLL
21,252
90
1,888
595
23,735
36
Washington
Dulles
, DC
IAD
21,352
93
806
708
22,866
37
Charlotte
-
Douglas, NC
CLT
22,102
97
218
464
22,784
38
Spokane, WA
GEG
22,243
98
69
379
22,691
39
Dallas
Love
, TX
DAL
22,397
100
47
59
22,503
40
New Orleans, LA
MSY
20,615
97
333
255
21,203
41
Albuquerque, NM
ABQ
20,029
97
139
417
20,585
42
Raleigh/Durham, NC
RDU
18,272
91
860
940
20,072
43
Kahului, HI
OGG
16,234
83
960
2,448
19,641
44
Burbank, CA
BUR
18,661
99
72
72
18,805
45
Indianapolis, IN
IND
17,577
97
422
89
18,087
46
Anchorage, AK
ANC
15,538
89
402
1,608
17,549
47
Boise, ID
BOI
17,502
100
0
0
17,502
48
Milwaukee, WI
MKE
16,597
96
409
273
17,279
49
Tucson, AZ
TUS
16,877
99
163
0
17,040
50
New York
LaGuardia
, NY
LGA
15,874
97
182
301
16,357
Total Domestic
3,281,368
96
63,133
80,690
3,425,192
Total International
180,662
75
50,109
9,730
240,501
Total All Markets
3,462,030
94
113,242
90,420
3,665,693
Source: Mead & Hunt, Inc.; YE June, 30 2016
Passengers daily each way (PDEW)
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-6
Figure 2-3: Traffic and Capacity Trends
Source: Diio Mi T-100 Seats/Onboards 12-month non-directional, one-way rolling average; LF=RPMs/ASMs
Figure 2-4: Revenue and Fare Trends
Source: Diio Mi (total O&D passengers and revenue)
2,668,208
2,177,286
1,921,145
1,716,122
75%
81%
30
38
45
53
60
68
75
83
90
1,000,000
1,250,000
1,500,000
1,750,000
2,000,000
2,250,000
2,500,000
2,750,000
3,000,000
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Load factor %
Capacity / Passengers
Capacity Passengers Load Factor
$587.9M
$624.1M
$171
$188
$199
$200
$120
$140
$160
$180
$200
$220
$240
$260
$400
$450
$500
$550
$600
$650
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
O&D Average Fare ($)
O&D Revenue
Millions
RNO YE O&D Revenue RNO YE Avg Fare US YE Avg Fare
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-7
Table 2-6 compares RNO with the other airports serving domestic markets in the region through YE June 30,
2016. RNO ranked 14
th
largest in the FAA West Region, which includes California, Arizona, Hawaii, and
Nevada, based on number of total passengers. RNO’s passenger and revenue growth outpaced the FAA West
Region. RNO’s fares increased one percent in contrast with fares for the region decreasing by four percent.
The decrease in RNO’s yield was similar to the regional average decline. This apparent contradiction is due to
passengers flying slightly longer distances during this period, and the fare being calculated as an average over
the distance traveled, or the fare divided by the miles traveled.
Table 2-6: Regional Comparisons – Domestic Only, YE June 30, 2016
Rank
Airport Passengers
Revenue
(000s)
Average
Fare
Average
Yield
YOY Change
Pax
Rev
Fare
Yield
1 Los Angeles, CA LAX 20,038,447 $3,700,815
$185 11.8¢ 10% 1% (8%) (8%)
2 Las Vegas, NV LAS 16,131,908 $2,262,677
$140 11.5¢ 9% 1% (7%) (8%)
3 San Francisco, CA SFO 14,192,653 $2,939,966
$207 13.0¢ 6% 3% (3%) (1%)
4 Phoenix, AZ PHX 11,738,283 $1,918,896
$163 13.8¢ 7% 4% (3%) (3%)
5 San Diego, CA SAN
8,605,799 $1,481,202
$172 12.9¢ 5% 2% (3%) (4%)
6 Honolulu, HI HNL
5,327,405 $1,264,101
$237 11.5¢ 1% 3% 2% 1%
7 Oakland, CA OAK
4,960,227 $703,289
$142 14.3¢ 7% 8% 1% (3%)
8 Orange County, CA
SNA
4,658,694 $781,818
$168 15.7¢ 8% 3% (4%) (4%)
9 San Jose, CA SJC 4,474,656 $730,609
$163 15.4¢ 6% 5% (1%) (2%)
10 Sacramento, CA SMF
4,301,125 $734,181
$171 15.4¢ 6% 5% (1%) (3%)
11 Kahului, HI OGG
2,444,215 $566,981
$232 12.0¢ 5% 5% 0% (2%)
12 Burbank, CA BUR
1,953,575 $270,457
$138 20.4¢ 2% 3% 1% 0%
13 Ontario, CA ONT
1,947,692 $325,178
$167 16.5¢ 1% 1% 0% (2%)
14 Reno, NV RNO
1,572,969 $271,505
$173 15.6¢ 7% 8% 1% (3%)
15 Tucson, AZ TUS 1,401,825 $267,431
$191 16.3¢ (2%) (1%) 0% (1%)
16 Lihue, HI LIH 1,292,657 $294,079
$227 12.6¢ 3% 3% 0% (1%)
17 Kona, HI KOA
1,216,952 $286,008
$235 12.9¢ 4% 3% 0% (4%)
18 Long Beach, CA LGB 1,177,654 $134,287
$114 13.3¢ (3%) (9%) (7%) (2%)
19 Palm Springs, CA PSP 723,044 $141,923
$196 15.8¢ 0% (1%) (1%) (1%)
20 Phoenix Mesa, AZ AZA 663,302 $54,114
$82 8.0¢ 5% (3%) (8%) (8%)
21 Hilo/Hawaii, HI ITO 602,981 $76,121
$126 19.0¢ 1% 2% 0% (3%)
22 Fresno, CA FAT 567,801 $120,385
$212 18.0¢ 1% 2% 1% 4%
23 Santa Barbara, CA SBA 277,457 $67,899
$245 19.0¢ (3%) (1%) 1% 0%
24 Monterey, CA MRY
177,080 $34,789
$196 18.7¢ 6% 0% (6%) (2%)
25 Santa Rosa, CA STS 138,960 $19,037
$137 24.3¢ 23% 22% (1%) (1%)
Total/Average
111,654,107
$19,712,744
$177
13.0¢
6%
2%
(4%)
(4%)
Source: Diio Mi – YE June 30, 2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-8
Regional Air Service Comparison (Route Performance)
The route performance section covers the load factor trends, revenue per available seat mile (RASM)
performance, and RASM trends. Overall, thirteen markets had declining load factors for the second quarter
of 2016 compared to the second quarter of 2015, with only six markets showing improvement. RNO load
factors for the same period declined one percentage point driven by a seven percent increase in capacity.
RASM trends for Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and JetBlue Airlines show mixed
results for the second quarter, with six markets improving and five markets having decreasing RASMs. The
most significant changes were positive on Alaska Airlines route to San Jose (SJC) and Delta Airlines route to
Minneapolis (MSP) increasing 17-19 percent year over year (YOY). For Southwest and United Airlines, overall
second quarter RASMs were down one percent YOY; however, results were mixed with seven markets
improving and three markets having decreasing RASMs.
Air Service Assessment (Service Gaps and Opportunities)
During the evaluation, gaps in commercial service emerged that present strong opportunities for RNO. This
section of the report documents the findings of the data collection and analysis in terms of existing airlines,
nonstop service, and air service opportunities for both incumbent and new airlines. As Figure 2-5 shows, as
of 2016 RNO has eight airlines (the seven domestic carriers and international carrier Volaris) providing
service to 22 destinations.
Figure 2-5: RNO Airline Service Destination Map
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
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Table 2-7 ranks RNO’s top 25 destinations and PDEWs by destination, as well as the average flights and seats
per week, and the market load factor those numbers represent. Several items are worth noting. Airlines as of
YE June 30, 2016, include Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United and Volaris. Potential
new entrants for domestic air service include two growing airlines: Frontier, which previously stopped service
in August 2007, and Spirit. Large local markets without nonstop service include: Logan International Airport
(BOS) with 71 PDEW, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to year-round with 66 PDEW, Orlando
International Airport (MCO) with 62 PDEW, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) with 52 PDEW,
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) with 49 PDEW, Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
with 48 PDEW, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with 45 PDEW, Detroit Metropolitan
Airport (DTW) with 44 PDEW, and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) with 42 PDEW. United Airlines
George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is a market in need of additional frequency due to high load
factors and strong unit revenue. In March 2017, RNO offered nonstop service to 16 of the top 25 destinations
with 395 weekly departures on 48,510 weekly seats.
Table 2-7: Top 25 Destinations by PDEW
Rank Destination PDEW
Average / Week
Market LF
Flights Seats
1 Las Vegas, NV LAS 595.9 69 10,123 76.1
2 Los Angeles, CA LAX 394.8 56 5,397 70.0
3 Phoenix, AZ PHX 264.4 35 4,786 78.2
4 Seattle-Tacoma, WA SEA 245.7 27 2,052 81.2
5 San Diego, CA SAN 220.2 13 1,859 74.2
6
Denver, CO DEN 202.5 28 3,877 86.3
7 Portland, OR PDX 144.0 20 1,520 79.3
8 New York JFK, NY JFK 134.5 7 1,050 86.0
9 Dallas-Fort Worth, TX DFW 99.2 14 2,240 82.1
10 Salt Lake City, UT SLC 94.9 26 3,627 81.9
11 Chicago O’Hare, IL ORD 89.0 7 1,120 80.7
12 San Jose, CA SJC 71.2 13 988 64.4
13 Boston, MA BOS 71.1 0 0 N/A
14 Minneapolis, MN MSP 65.7 0 0 92.4
15 Orange County, CA SNA 63.0 7 532 80.4
16 Orlando, FL MCO 62.0 0 0 N/A
17 Atlanta, GA ATL 58.3 1 180 N/A
18 Chicago Midway, IL MDW 57.6 4 668 92.0
19 Austin, TX AUS 52.2 0 0 N/A
20 Philadelphia, PA PHL 48.5 0 0 N/A
21 Baltimore, MD BWI 48.2 0 0 N/A
22 Washington Reagan, DC DCA 45.1 0 0 N/A
23 Detroit, MI DTW 44.4 0 0 N/A
24 Houston Bush, TX IAH 44.3 2 152 94.3
25 Newark, NJ EWR 41.6 0 0 N/A
Source: Mead & Hunt, Inc. YE June 30, 2016; March 2017 schedules and YE October 2016 LFs
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
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RNO has a relatively high retention rate and supports the catchment area population of more than 750,000.
Based on the air service market trends derived from this study, March 2017 capacity is expected to be up 19
percent YOY, which indicates RNO is experiencing significant growth mainly driven by increases from all
incumbent airlines except American and Volaris Airlines. Carriers that have increased their schedule may be
cautious about further expansion if the scheduled capacity is unfilled and will likely want to see that extra
capacity sold and used at reasonable levels before expanding again in the near term.
RNO has service to all its top 10 markets including to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York,
which began in June 2015. While New York nonstop service exists, United Airlines’ service to EWR or
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) are options given the large regional local market sizes with no
nonstop service. While DCA may be the preferred airport for Washington D.C. area, IAD or BWI would offer
significantly more potential international connections.
Additional nonstop service to eastern markets such as BOS, DTW, MCO and PHL should be explored along
with continuing to meet with airlines not serving RNO as of the time of this study, such as Frontier Airlines
and Spirit Airlines. Eastern destinations could be more challenging to attract and retain service, as they
require a greater cost investment by the airlines due to the longer distances being flown. These costs make
the economics of the routes more challenging to sustain.
Incumbent Airline Opportunities
Overall, when including domestic and international travelers, Southwest Airlines was the largest carrier at
RNO at YE June 30, 2016. Southwest Airlines carried about 1.5 million passengers, ahead of American Airlines
with 735,000 passengers, United Airlines with 415,000, Alaska Airlines with 396,000, Delta with 247,000,
JetBlue with 82,000, and Volaris and Allegiant each carrying approximately 35,000 annual onboard
passengers to and from RNO. Load factors for all airlines averaged 81 percent with United Airlines and
JetBlue averaging 86 percent, and Volaris averaging the lowest at 73 percent. Overall industry load factors in
the mid-80s still leaves some room for passenger growth on the current schedule, especially for Alaska
Airlines and Southwest Airlines with their percent of seats sold just under 80 percent.
Trends point to Alaska Airlines’ overall March capacity being up 17 percent YOY. However, the merger with
Virgin-America may offer opportunities for additional expansion beyond John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange
County to markets such as SFO and SAN as they work through their combined networks. With Allegiant’s
year-round service to just LAS at the time of this study, opportunities for new markets such as AUS exist. AUS
is a top 20 market without nonstop service. Due to the nonstop service already provided from RNO to both
PHX and SAN, service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) or SAN would present challenges. For example,
Allegiant may be reluctant to serve another market with direct competition even though they serve LAS in
conjunction with Southwest Airlines today.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-11
Expanding Delta’s presence beyond Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is another viable option to
explore as both Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and MSP have had less than daily
service and both are a top 20 market without daily nonstop service. Even though United Airline’s capacity is
trending upward 16 percent, they are running high load factors in the RNO market. As a result, additional
frequencies to IAH or nonstops to additional eastern markets like Chicago O’Hare International Airport
(ORD), IAD or EWR could be considered. Southwest has added the greatest number of seats YOY in the RNO
market expanding into Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Oakland International Airport (OAK); therefore, Southwest
may want to give the new service time to ramp up before expanding further. With the addition of Long
Beach Airport (LGB), JetBlue has doubled its capacity from the RNO market and may also want to give the
service time to prove itself. Volaris flies to Guadalajara International Airport (GDL) three times per week and
has generated load factors above 80 percent in certain months. Volaris could look to expand to additional
destinations such as CUN or Mexico City International Airport (MEX).
New Airline Opportunities
Several airlines do not currently operate at RNO and are potential operators of new service. These include
Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and some low cost international carriers such as WOW Air that continue to
grow and expand their footprint across the U.S. To attract these potential airlines, RNO would need to
experience either local market growth and/or target a hub that could provide connections beyond the target
city to be economically viable. Canadian carriers like WestJet are an example of this scenario.
Other airline opportunities may arise, such as pro-rate flying on regional airlines like SkyWest Airlines, or
scheduled charter service on evolving carriers like Air Florida, Falcon Air Express, Omni Air, Miami Air
International, or Sun Country. Previous attempts at attracting international service to London were
successful by working with key stakeholders though the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) staffing issues
will need to be examined. Targeting tour operators such as Thomas Cook, Apple Vacations, or Vacation
Express can be another way to expand international service.
Air Service Market Evaluation Summary
With more than 775,000 people in the RNO primary catchment area, a true market of 3.67 million O & D
travelers translates to 93 percent domestic travel, and seven percent, international. RNO retains 94 percent
within the top 25 markets, which generate 65 percent of total air travel.
In terms of market performance, based on YE June 30, 2016, capacity, passengers, and load factor improved
YOY and were trending positively. RNO fares were lower than the U.S. average and were stable while O&D
airline revenue was increasing, with Southwest Airlines and American Airlines leading in revenue share at
RNO. RNO passenger and revenue growth outpaced other airports within the West region. This appears to
contradict the reported results in the bullets below, but it is important to keep in mind that RASMs are the
metric used to analyze route performance. RASMs combine the average fare and load factor, which leads to
the seeming contradiction.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-12
In terms of route performance, the bullets below summarize the results for the airlines serving passengers at
RNO:
Alaska (AS): RNO had above average RASM at SNA/Portland International Airport (PDX)/San Jose
International Airport (SJC)/SEA, but below average at Boise Airport (BOI) – SJC, although the RASM
experienced strong YOY improvement.
Allegiant (G4): RNO had above average RASM at LAS.
American (AA): RNO had below average RASM at ORD/Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
(DFW)/PHX, and average at LAX.
Delta (DL): RNO had below average RASM at SLC – MSP, but operated seasonally on Saturdays only and
ran high load factors.
JetBlue (B6): RNO had below average RASM at JFK, where service began June 2015. LGB was not
analyzed due to service starting September 2016.
Southwest (WN): RNO had average RASM at LAS/LAX/SAN, and below average at Chicago Midway
International Airport (MDW)/PHX/Denver International Airport (DEN)/OAK. Service to OAK began June
2016.
United (UA): RNO had above average RASM at IAH/SFO, average at LAX, and below average at DEN.
Appendix F provides additional information regarding route performance for each of the airlines currently
serving RNO.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-13
Commercial Passenger Traffic
This section discusses the historical trends in commercial passenger traffic at RNO and presents forecasts for
the 20-year period ending in 2036. The analysis of historical trends sets the context for model specifications
and assumptions used in forecast development.
Historical Enplanement Trends
Enplanement History Since 1990
In 2016 RNO posted its second consecutive year of growth in commercial passenger traffic, seeing 6.4
percent in growth of total passengers (enplaned and deplaned). Passenger enplanements increased 6.2
percent to 1.82 million, surpassing the previous year’s increase of 3.9 percent, as shown in Figure 2-6. These
increases ended seven consecutive years of decreases that began in 2008, when the U.S. economy entered a
recession. The increases also halted an overall downward trend since 1997 when enplanements reached an
all-time peak level of 3.34 million at the height of Reno Air’s hub operations at RNO.
Figure 2-6: RNO’s Enplanement Trends since 1990
Sources: U.S. BTS T-100 data for 1990-2008, RTAA records for 2009-2016, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-14
From 1990 through 1997, RNO experienced an unprecedented growth in enplanements with the expansion
of low-fare service by Reno Air and Southwest Airlines amid a long-running U.S. economic expansion.
Southwest Airlines began service in 1990 and rapidly ramped up its operations, gaining the largest airline
share of RNO enplanements by 1996.
Reno Air, a start-up low-fare carrier, began service in 1992 with RNO as its home base and main network hub.
Reno Air expanded operations quickly and competed closely with Southwest Airlines, besting Southwest in
1997 for the largest market share at RNO.
A pivotal change occurred in 1993 when Reno Air entered an alliance with American Airlines to handle
American’s regional traffic. In 1999, American Airlines acquired Reno Air, which flew its last flight in August
that year. At the time of the acquisition, American intended to use Reno Air to expand its network, but plans
changed following the 2001 U.S. economic recession and terrorist attacks. Financial pressures led American
to dispose of Reno Air’s entire fleet to reduce capacity and dismantle Reno Air’s network including the RNO
hub. These actions downgraded RNO to a secondary airport in American’s route system.
During the same period, RNO, along with other U.S. airports, faced weak air travel demand from the
economic recession, security concerns after the terrorist attacks, and a decrease in short-haul air travel due
to the new stringent security measures. After peaking in 1997, enplanements at RNO decreased in five
consecutive years through 2002.
In 2003, the trend reversed and annual enplanements at RNO increased in three consecutive years. During
the same period, jet fuel prices began to rise, and the U.S. economy began to slow again, ultimately entering
another recession in 2008-2009, which has come to be known as the Great Recession. This was the longest
and deepest post-World War II recession.
Airlines responded by cutting domestic seat capacity, cutting service on less profitable routes, increasing load
factors, transferring routes between mainline and regional service, retiring old aircraft, changing pricing
structures, and implementing various cost-cutting measures. Mounting financial pressures led to airline
bankruptcies and a consolidation wave that has left the industry with only four major airlines controlling 80
percent of the U.S. market. The Great Recession dampened air travel demand in leisure markets like Reno
more than in other markets with large business centers. Airline capacity cuts, which continued long after the
end of the Great Recession, hurt smaller airports like RNO more than larger airports.
As a result of these factors, passenger traffic at RNO decreased to 1.65 million enplanements in 2014, the
lowest level in 26 years. The growth in the past two years increased enplanements by 10.3 percent, to 1.82
million in 2016, about the same as the level in 1992, the second full year of Southwest’s operations at RNO
and the year Reno Air started service. The enplanement level in 2016 was slightly more than one half of the
all-time peak level in 1997 and more than two-thirds of the highest level reached just before the Great
Recession.
The growth in RNO enplanements in the past two years can be attributed to two positive trends: the regional
economic recovery is finally gaining momentum, and airlines are beginning to add capacity. At RNO, all
airlines increased scheduled seats over the two-year period, with Alaska Airlines adding the largest number
of seats. RNO also gained two new airlines, JetBlue and Volaris, and JetBlue added the second largest number
of seats.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-15
Comparison of RNO and U.S. Enplanement Trends since 2002
Figure 2-7 compares the enplanement growth trends at RNO with the national trends since 2002. Through
2005, RNO was outperforming the nation in enplanement growth. By 2005, RNO’s enplanements had grown
22 percent from 2002, while U.S. total enplanements had grown only 19 percent. In 2006, RNO began to fall
behind as enplanements began to decrease, while total U.S. enplanements continued to increase through
2007.
In 2008-2009, the U.S. economy entered the Great Recession, and enplanements decreased nationwide. RNO
suffered proportionally larger decreases in enplanements. After the Recession ended in 2009, U.S. total
enplanements grew steadily each year and surpassed their pre-recession level in 2014. By 2016, U.S. total
enplanements had grown to 138 percent of their level in 2002.
RNO experienced the opposite as enplanements continued to decrease through 2014. RNO reversed the
trend in 2015 and has tracked national growth trends since then. Despite growing more than 10 percent over
the past two years, however, RNO’s enplanements remained well below pre-recession levels. In 2016, RNO
enplanements were still only at 83 percent of the 2002 level. As Figure 2-8 shows, RNO’s share of total U.S.
enplanements decreased from 0.3 percent before the recession to 0.2 percent after the recession.
Figure 2-7: RNO and U.S. Enplanements – Cumulative Growth Since 2002
Sources: RTAA records for RNO enplanements, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics T-100 Market Data for U.S. total
enplanements, and Unison Consulting, Inc. The data labels show cumulative growth through 2016.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-16
Figure 2-8: RNO’s Share (%) of U.S. Total Enplanements
Sources: RTAA records for RNO enplanements, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics T-100 Market Data for U.S. total
enplanements, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
The following factors explain the divergence of RNO’s enplanement growth trends from the national
enplanement growth trends:
Divergent economic trends: Compared to the U.S. economy, the regional economy declined more sharply
during the 2008-2009 recession and continued to decline through 2013, four years into the national
economic recovery and expansion, as shown in Figure 2-9.
Divergent employment trends: The nonfarm employment level in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley
combined statistical area (Reno CSA) fell more sharply during the recession and began to recover a year
later than the U.S. nonfarm employment level, as shown in Figure 2-10.
Divergent trends in available airline seats: U.S. airlines cut system-wide domestic seat capacity during the
recession and kept capacity flat through 2014. RNO suffered deeper cuts, which continued through 2014,
as shown in Figure 2-11.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-17
Figure 2-9: Comparison of the Reno CSA and U.S. Overall Economic Growth Trends
GDP – Gross Domestic Product
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Moody’s Analytics, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-10: Comparison of the Reno CSA and U.S. Employment Growth Trends
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Moody’s Analytics, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-18
Figure 2-11: Comparison of Trends in Available Seats at RNO and Nationwide
(U.S. Carriers, Domestic Segment Only)
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics T-100 Domestic Segment Data on Available Seats and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Monthly Enplanement Trends
A seasonal pattern in enplanements is typical at most airports as it is at RNO, as shown in Figure 2-12. During
the year, enplanements at RNO typically reach their highest level in July, the peak of summer leisure travel.
They typically reach their lowest level in November, before the winter ski season, except in 2015 when
enplanements were lowest in February and in 2016 when enplanements were lowest in January.
Figure 2-12: Monthly Enplanement Trends at RNO
Sources: RTAA records and Unison Consulting, Inc.
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Enplanements (Thousand)
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-19
Enplanement Trends by Airline from 2009
Figure 2-13 shows RNO’s enplanement trends by airline since 2009, the year during which the Great
Recession ended in June. RNO’s enplanements continued to decrease until the past two years and, by 2016,
were still down 3.1 percent from 2009. Southwest Airlines, RNO’s largest passenger carrier, was responsible
for much of the decrease, especially in short haul flights. United and Delta also posted decreases from 2009
to 2016. The increases in enplanements by American, Alaska, and other airlines, especially newcomer
JetBlue, offset some of the decreases in enplanements by Southwest, United, and Delta. In 2014, total
enplanements reached their lowest level for the period, which was also the lowest level in 26 years. Since
2014, total enplanements have been increasing, with all the airlines posting net increases between 2014 and
2016.
Southwest Airlines remains the largest passenger carrier at RNO, with a 43 percent share of total
enplanements in 2016, as shown in Figure 2-14. However, this share decreased from 54 percent in 2009,
which allowed other airlines to increase market shares. American Airlines, including US Airways’
enplanements, increased its enplanement share from 16 to 21 percent; Alaska Airlines, from 8 to 12 percent;
and new entrants JetBlue, Volaris, and Allegiant gained a combined share of 6 percent in 2016. During the
same period, United's market share decreased slightly from 13 to 12 percent, and Delta maintained its
market share of 7 percent.
America West merged with US Airways prior to 2009, and US Airways merged with American Airlines in 2013.
The charts in Figure 2-14 and Figure 2-15 show the combined enplanements of US Airways and American
Airlines, which grew in share from 2009 to 2016.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-20
Figure 2-13: RNO Enplanements by Airline
Sources: RTAA records and Unison Consulting, Inc.
1. The bottom chart showing enplanement growth trends for individual airlines does not show the “Others” category. Subtotal
enplanements by this category of airlines quadrupled from 2009 to 2016 because of the entry of JetBlue, Volaris, and Allegiant into
RNO.
2. The numbers for American Airlines include the combined traffic of American Airlines, US Airways, and their regional affiliates,
before and after the merger. American Airlines and US Airways merged in 2013, and the US Airways brand was retired in 2015.
3. The numbers for United Airlines include Continental Airlines’ traffic prior to their merger in 2011.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-21
Figure 2-14: Airline Shares of RNO Enplanements
Sources: RTAA records and Unison Consulting, Inc.
The recent wave of consolidation prompted airlines to renew efforts to streamline operations and optimize
networks, cut overall system capacity, and shift their focus away from protecting market share to achieving
profitability. In the process, they moved flights from smaller markets like RNO to larger markets where they
could gain scale and network economies and make higher profits.
In addition, three specific developments likely contributed to the decrease in Southwest Airlines’ activity at
RNO: the repeal of the Wright Amendment, Southwest Airlines’ acquisition of AirTran Airways, and the
conditions for the U.S. Department of Justice’s approval of the American Airlines-US Airways merger. The
repeal of the Wright Amendment lifted restrictions at Southwest Airlines’ home base, Dallas Love Field (DAL),
on one-stop through service effective October 2007 and on nonstop service effective October 2014, allowing
Southwest to increase flights at DAL. The acquisition of AirTran Airways in May 2013 opened international
markets for Southwest. With the merger of American Airlines and US Airways, Southwest gained access to
gates at DCA, La Guardia Airport (LGA), and BOS that American Airlines and US Airways had to give up as a
condition to the approval of the merger. Due to a finite number of aircraft, Southwest’s expansion at these
airports was made possible by decreasing flights at other airports, including RNO.
54%
43%
16%
21%
13%
12%
8%
12%
7%
7%
1%
6%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Percentage
Others
Delta
Alaska
United
American
Southwest
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-22
Composition of Passenger Traffic at RNO
RNO’s passenger traffic consists largely of O&D traffic, as shown in Figure 2-15, which was estimated to
account for 90 percent of total enplanements in 2015. In 1997, at the height of Reno Air’s hub operations at
RNO, O&D traffic accounted for about 76 percent. RNO’s passenger traffic also consisted entirely of domestic
passengers, until Volaris began the RNO-GDL service in December 2014. By 2016, Volaris enplaned more than
20,000 passengers, capturing a 1 percent share.
Figure 2-15: Enplanements – O&D and Connecting Traffic Shares
Sources: RTAA records, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics T-100 Market Data, U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics DB1B
O&D Market Data accessed through Data Base Products, Inc., and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Top 20 O&D Markets
Figure 2-16 shows RNO’s top 20 O&D airport markets. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport tops the list
with a 13.4 percent share, followed by LAX with 8.2 percent, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
with 5.3 percent.
76%
90%
24%
10%
1997 2015
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015
Enplanements (Million)
Connecting
O&D
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-23
Figure 2-16: RNO’s Top 20 O&D Airport Markets
Airport Code
Share of RNO O&D
Passengers
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, NV LAS 13.4%
Los Angeles International Airport, CA LAX 8.2%
Phoenix Sky Harbor International, AZ PHX 5.3%
Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, WA SEA 4.7%
San Diego International Airport, CA SAN 4.7%
Denver International Airport, CO DEN 4.2%
Portland International Airport, OR PDX 3.1%
John F Kennedy International Airport, NY
1
JFK 2.7%
Salt Lake City International Airport, UT SLC 2.1%
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX DFW 1.9%
Chicago O' Hare International Airport, IL ORD 1.8%
Orange County John Wayne Airport, CA SNA 1.7%
San José International Airport, CA SJC 1.6%
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, MN MSP 1.5%
Orlando International Airport, FL MCO 1.4%
Boston Logan International Airport, MA BOS 1.4%
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, GA ATL 1.3%
Chicago Midway International Airport, IL MDW 1.2%
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, TX AUS 1.2%
Baltimore/Washington International Airport, MD BWI 1.0%
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics DB1B O&D Market Data accessed through Data Base Products, Inc., Bing Maps,
and Unison Consulting, Inc.
1. RNO O&D passengers using Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and La Guardia Airport (LGA) combined account for
another 1.3%.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-24
Historical Trends in Scheduled Passenger Airline Service
The following figures show the trends in scheduled passenger airline service at RNO:
Scheduled seats from 2004 (Figure 2-17)
Scheduled seats by major carriers from 2004 (Figure 2-18)
Scheduled flights from 2004 (Figure 2-19)
Fleet mix and average seats per flight in 2004 and 2016 (Figure 2-20)
Number of nonstop destinations served from RNO from 2004 (Figure 2-21)
Scheduled service by airline from 2012 (Figure 2-22)
Seats provide the best measure for airline service capacity. Since 2004, scheduled seats at RNO have
decreased by about 40 percent, as shown in Figure 2-17. Southwest Airlines, RNO’s largest passenger carrier,
was responsible for much of the decrease, but all the other major carriers also contributed. Unfavorable
economic conditions, airline industry consolidation, and airline capacity rationalization explain the overall
decrease in airline industry capacity, which fell disproportionately on RNO and other small hub airports.
Southwest experienced other milestones such as regulatory changes, acquisition of AirTran Airways, and
requisite access to more gates at other airports as a condition of the 2013 merger. These milestones allowed
Southwest to expand elsewhere, made possible by cutting capacity at RNO and other airports, due to the
limited number of aircraft available for use and the lack of crew to fly them. Additionally, heightened
economic uncertainty during the Great Recession and the subsequent slow recovery made it unwise for
Southwest (and other airlines) to incur large capital costs by buying new aircraft. In fact, one of the strategies
that was key to airlines’ survival during the years of the recession was to retire inefficient aircraft, defer
deliveries of aircraft on order, and hold off on new aircraft orders.
Figure 2-19 shows how mergers have affected scheduled seats by major airlines at RNO. Of all the mergers
since 2004, the America West-US Airways merger in 2005 and the Continental-United merger in 2010 clearly
caused decreases in the combined seats of those airlines at RNO.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-25
Figure 2-17: Trends in Scheduled Seats at RNO from 2004
Sources: Diio Mi Schedule data from RTAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-18: Trends in Scheduled Seats of Major Airlines at RNO from 2004
Sources: Diio Mi Schedule data from RTAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-26
Scheduled flights have decreased as much as scheduled seats, as Figure 2-19 shows.
Figure 2-19: Trends in Scheduled Flights at RNO from 2004
Sources: Diio Mi Schedule data from RTAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
The mix of aircraft serving RNO has also changed, as shown in Figure 2-20. The proportion of narrow body jet
aircraft decreased from 81 percent in 2004 to 63 percent in 2016, as the proportion of smaller aircraft,
namely regional jet and turboprop aircraft, increased from 19 percent in 2004 to 37 percent in 2016. As a
result, the average number of seats on each flight decreased slightly from 120 in 2004 to 118 in 2016. Within
the narrow-body jet fleet, however, airlines have been adding seats to existing aircraft, so that the average
seat capacity on each narrow-body jet aircraft has increased. Within the regional jet and turboprop fleet, the
smaller 50-seat aircraft have been replaced with larger aircraft, so that the average seat capacity in this
equipment group has also increased.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-27
Figure 2-20: Fleet Mix and Average Seats per Flight
Sources: Diio Mi Schedule data from RTAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
The number of airport destinations served nonstop from RNO, shown in Figure 2-21, increased to 22 in 2016
from a low of 17 in 2010-2014. In 2004-2009, the number of airport destinations had reached a high of 23.
Figure 2-21: Number of Airport Destinations with Nonstop Flights from RNO
Sources: Diio Mi Schedule data from RTAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-28
Figure 2-22 shows the trends in scheduled service originating from RNO by airline over the last five years.
Southwest still accounts for the most number of seats and flights offered at RNO, although its average daily
scheduled seats decreased from 3,800 in 2012 to 2,800 in 2016, and its average daily flights decreased from
28 in 2012 to 20 in 2016. American Airlines follows in second position, increasing its average daily scheduled
seats from 1,000 in 2012 to 1,200 in 2016 while maintaining 11 flights per day on average. For the entire
airport, scheduled seats decreased from 6,400 per day in 2012 to 6,300 per day in 2016 and scheduled flights
decreased from 56 per day in 2012 to 54 per day in 2016, on average.
Figure 2-22: Trends in Scheduled Outbound Service by Airline from RNO from 2012
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-29
Landings and Landed Weight
The trends in number of aircraft landings and landed weight by commercial passenger airlines reflect the
same declining trend through 2014 and the beginning of recovery in 2015 and 2016 observed by
enplanements, shown in Figure 2-23. Southwest Airlines accounts for the largest shares of landings and
landed weight, and American Airlines accounts for the second largest shares.
Figure 2-23: Trends in Landings and Landed Weight by Airline from RNO from 2012
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-30
Commercial Passenger Aircraft Operations by Month and Time of Day
Figure 2-24 shows the monthly distribution of commercial passenger aircraft operations at RNO, based on
airline flight schedules for 2015-2017. The peak month is July, with an average of 9.3 percent of annual
operations taking place during this month. Figure 2-25 shows the hourly distribution of operations during the
average day in July, also based on airline flight schedules for 2015-2017. Arrivals and departures are
distributed differently throughout the day. The peak hour for aircraft departures is from 6 to 6:59 a.m.; 13.1
percent of daily departures take place during this hour. The peak hour for aircraft arrivals is from 11 to 11:59
p.m.; nine percent of daily arrivals take place during this hour. The peak hour for total aircraft operations
(departures and arrivals) is from 9 to 9:59 a.m.; or 7.5 percent of total daily operations take place during this
hour.
Figure 2-24: Monthly Distribution of Commercial Passenger Aircraft Operations
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc. The distribution is based on scheduled flights for 2015-2017.
Jul, 9.3%
6%
7%
8%
9%
10%
11%
12%
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Share of Annual Operations
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-31
Figure 2-25: Peak Month Average Day Distribution of Commercial Passenger Aircraft Operations
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc. The distributions are based on scheduled flights for July in 2015-2017.
Forecast Commercial Passenger Traffic
Methodology
The approach to forecasting commercial passenger aviation activity uses the following modeling techniques:
Hybrid forecasting framework
Multivariate time series regression analysis
Scenario forecasting
Forecast risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulation
Arrivals, 9.0%
Departures,
13.1%
Total Operations,
7.5%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
14%
Percentage of Operations
Time of Day
Arrivals Departures Total Operations
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-32
The models use data from various sources, including the following:
Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority
Airline flight schedules
Airline websites and annual reports
Online airline fleet data sources
U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics databases and publications
Federal Aviation Administration databases and publications
U.S. Bureau of Census
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
Moody’s Analytics
2015-2019 Northern Nevada Regional Growth Study prepared by the Economic Planning Indicator
Committee (EPIC).
The hybrid forecasting framework incorporates both supply and demand considerations. The forecast for the
first year is supply-driven, based primarily on published airline flight schedules for up to one year ahead.
Airlines plan their schedules based on passenger bookings, and the schedules therefore reflect near-term
market demand. The schedules also establish the baseline data on commercial aircraft operations and fleet
mix.
Beyond the first year, forecasts are demand-driven. Market demand factors drive growth in enplanements.
Forecast enplanement levels, in turn, determine the number of aircraft operations and corresponding landed
weight, along with assumptions regarding trends in boarding load factors and changes in aircraft fleet mix.
Multivariate time series regression analysis links enplanement growth to trends in market demand drivers.
This type of analysis combines elements of multiple regression and time series regression methods. This
econometric modeling technique provides the ability to incorporate many explanatory variables, quantify the
contribution of each explanatory variable to aviation activity trends, and account for time trends and any
serial correlation in time series data. The model estimation process using the least squares method is
designed to minimize forecast errors. Using two-stage least squares (TSLS) estimation method also addresses
the potential endogeneity of real passenger yield, one of the key drivers of passenger traffic.
The regression model specification for RNO passenger traffic is based on the underlying theory of consumer
demand and the dynamics of traffic growth at RNO. The regression coefficients that measure contributions of
market demand drivers (explanatory variables) to RNO enplanement growth trends are estimated using
historical annual and quarterly data from 1990, controlling for the effects of any structural changes in air
service and extra-ordinary events like the 2001 terrorist attacks. The estimated regression coefficients are
then used to generate forecasts of RNO enplanements based on projected trends for the model explanatory
variables.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-33
Since American Airlines ended the former Reno Air’s hub operations at RNO in 2001, connecting traffic has
decreased, increasing the O&D traffic share to 90 percent of total enplanements. For the regression model of
passenger traffic, O&D enplanements serve as the dependent variable, effectively controlling for the
significant fluctuation in enplanement levels due to connecting traffic.
The key explanatory variables (independent variables) in the regression model of passenger traffic are as
follows:
Economic trends: The regression model includes two economic indicators: the real per capita gross
domestic product (GDP) for the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA to indicate regional economic trends,
and the U.S. unemployment rate to indicate national economic trends.
1
The regression coefficient
estimates for these variables confirm their expected effects on RNO enplanement trends. Holding all
other factors constant, growth in regional real per capita GDP and decreases in U.S. unemployment rate,
indicating overall national economic growth, promote growth in RNO enplanements. Conversely,
economic downturns and increases in unemployment decrease RNO enplanements.
Airline yield trends: Consumer demand is inversely related to price. Demand increases when price
decreases and decreases when price increases, if all other things are equal. The regression model
estimation results confirm this relationship strongly applies to RNO passenger traffic. The regression
model uses the average real passenger yield at RNO as the indicator for the price of air travel. Passenger
yield, which is the average revenue per passenger mile, is a better price indicator than the average fare,
because it controls for trip distance.
2
Figures 2-26, 2-27, 2-28, and 2-29 show the projections of the most likely trends in the key demand drivers:
Regional economic trends: The regional real per capita GDP decreased sharply during the last recession.
Altogether it decreased for eight years straight through 2013. The regional economy began to turn
around in 2014 and has since grown steadily along with the national economy, albeit at the same slow
pace. According to economic forecasts by Moody’s Analytics, the regional real per capita GDP will
continue growing at an average pace of 1.3 percent annually over the 20-year forecast period, 2017-
2036. Moody’s Analytics’ economic forecasts anticipate some cyclicality in the medium term, showing a
mild acceleration of growth in the regional economy over the next three years—consistent with the
forecast in EPIC’s Northern Nevada Regional Growth Study for 2015-2019—before growth slows again.
The long-term forecast, however, does not anticipate any deep downturns in the regional economy like
the one experienced during the Great Recession.
1
These two economic indicators proved to be better predictors of RNO enplanement trends than the other economic
indicators tested: aggregate and per capita personal income in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA; nonfarm
employment in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA; and U.S. nonfarm employment. Population at the CSA level was
also tested as an explanatory variable.
2
Airline yield may not be totally independent of passenger traffic levels. The use of TSLS corrects for the potential
endogeneity of airline yield. With TSLS, the model estimation is done in two stages. In the first stage, airline yield is
regressed on the following independent variables: nonfarm employment in the Reno CSA, real per capita GDP in the
Reno CSA, U.S. unemployment rate, real jet fuel price, the variables that control for the changes in air service by Reno
Air and Southwest airlines, and the variables that capture post-9/11 structural changes.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-34
National economic trends: Reflecting improving national economic conditions, the U.S. unemployment
rate has been declining steadily from a peak level of 9.6 percent reached in 2010. The 4.9 percent U.S.
unemployment rate in 2016 reflects a national economy near full employment. According to Moody’s
Analytics’ economic forecast, the U.S. unemployment rate will continue to decline for another three
years before rising again, but it will not rise to levels reached during the Great Recession. It will rise to 5.4
percent in 2022 and then taper at 4.9 percent.
Airline yield trends: The average real passenger yield at RNO had been on a long-term decreasing trend
through 2004. Then it began to increase in 2005 and continued increasing through 2014—Southwest
Airlines was cutting capacity at RNO during this period. In the past two years, the average real passenger
yield at RNO has been decreasing again. For the master plan forecast, the average real passenger yield at
RNO is set to follow FAA’s projected trend for U.S. mainline air carriers. It will remain essentially flat over
the first 10 years of the forecast period and then decrease very slightly over the following 10 years. See
footnote 2 on the previous page.
Figure 2-26: Historical and Projected Trends in Reno CSA Real Per Capita GDP
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Moody’s Analytics, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-27: Historical and Projected Trends in U.S. Unemployment Rate
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Moody’s Analytics, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
43,739
45,325
58,149
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
2036
Historical Forecast
Real Per Capita GDP in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA (2009 $)
5.6%
4.9%
4.9%
0%
2%
4%
6%
8%
10%
12%
1990
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023
2025
2027
2029
2031
2033
2035
Historical Forecast
U.S. Unemployment Rate
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-35
Figure 2-28: Historical and Projected Trends in RNO Real Passenger Yield
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics DB1B, Federal Aviation Administration, and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-29: Historical and Projected Annual Change in Key Market Demand Drivers
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics DB1B for historical data on RNO real passenger yield; Federal Aviation Administration for projected
trend in real passenger yield; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis of historical real per capita GDP in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA; U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics for historical U.S. unemployment rate; Moody’s Analytics for projected real per capita GDP in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV,
CSA; and projected U.S. unemployment rate, and Unison Consulting, Inc., for analysis.
0.24
0.15
0.13
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026
2028
2030
2032
2034
2036
Historical Forecast
RNO Real Passenger Yield (2009 $)
-2.4%
-0.6%
1.0%
1.0%
4.9%
4.9%
-15%
-10%
-5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
Historical Projected
Change in RNO real passenger yield
Change in real per capita GDP in the Reno-Carson City-Fernley, NV, CSA
U.S. unemployment rate
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-36
Since 1990, RNO has gone through significant changes in airline service, particularly from Reno Air, which
operated at RNO from 1992 to 1999, and from Southwest Airlines, which has operated at RNO since 1990. To
account for the effects of these changes, the regression model includes the following variables:
Number of nonstop destinations served by Reno Air, as a percentage of total nonstop destinations served
from RNO.
Number of nonstop destinations served by Southwest Airlines, as a percentage of total nonstop
destinations served from RNO.
The regression model also includes an explanatory variable to account for the adverse effects of the terrorist
attacks in 2001 and the subsequent structural changes in the travel market and the airline industry. The
terrorist attacks had profound effects on the airline industry and airports, including RNO. They caused a
sharp decrease in enplanements following the attacks in 2001 and the following year. They prompted more
stringent security screening processes at airports that caused lasting changes in the demand for air travel.
They set in motion various other structural changes in the airline industry. To curb financial losses following
the terrorist attacks, American Airlines disposed of the Reno Air fleet it acquired in 1999, dismantled Reno
Air’s network, and closed the RNO connecting hub.
After 2001, aviation fuel prices began to rise, reaching record levels by 2008. The rise in fuel costs aggravated
financial pressures in the airline industry, prompting airlines to change business models, cut costs, cut
capacity, and consolidate through mergers. These are changes that affect RNO to this day. Preliminary
specifications of the regression model included aviation fuel prices as an explanatory variable. It was
excluded in the final model because its coefficient was statistically insignificant. Fuel prices as an explanatory
variable also did not add to the model’s overall predictive power, likely because the effects are already
captured by the other explanatory variables, such as the economic indicators, airline passenger yield, and the
variable accounting for structural changes since the terrorist attacks in 2001.
The regression model was estimated twice, using annual data and quarterly data. This approach resulted in
similar measures for the contribution of each of the market drivers to RNO passenger traffic trends,
producing similar forecasts for RNO passenger traffic growth. The measured contributions (coefficient
estimates) of all the explanatory variables are consistent with theory and expectations. They are all
statistically significant. That means they show strong evidence that they really influence passenger traffic
trends. The regression model has an adjusted R-squared of 0.96, meaning that the model and all its
explanatory variables explain 96 percent of variations in RNO O&D enplanements, which account for 90
percent of total enplanements.
The model coefficient estimates measuring the contributions of market drivers to growth in RNO’s
enplanements, along with projections of trends in the key market demand drivers, produce the forecast
growth in enplanements beyond the first year of the forecast period. Recognizing uncertainty in the future
trends of key market drivers, alternative forecasts were developed using Monte Carlo simulation. A
comprehensive approach to forecast risk analysis Monte Carlo simulation uses probability distributions and
random sampling techniques for assigning future values to the key explanatory variables of the regression
model. The simulation, involving 5,000 iterations, produced a wide range of possible scenarios for future
enplanement growth and corresponding percentile rankings. Percentiles provide an indication of the
likelihood of each of the forecast scenarios.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-37
Figure 2-30 shows the range of forecast enplanements, which include select Monte Carlo simulation results
and the recommended Master Plan forecast. Figure 2-31 also shows a high growth forecast, a low growth
forecast, and the FAA TAF for comparison. The Master Plan forecast is based on the following scenario:
Organic growth: Organic growth in RNO enplanements would proceed as determined by the following
factors: (1) the growth in scheduled seat capacity at RNO in 2017, and (2) the most likely trends for the
key market demand drivers (i.e. regional economy, national economy, and passenger yield).
Aggressive air service development: RTAA’s air service development efforts would increase RNO’s
market capture rate to 100 percent by 2022, from the current market capture rate of 94 percent for
domestic traffic and 75 percent for international traffic estimated by the True Market Study.
The resulting forecast annual enplanements are within no more than 2 percent of the forecast annual
enplanements under the FAA TAF. They are closest to the 60-percentile result in 2018, the 65-percentile
results in 2019 and in 2030-2036, the 70-percentile results in 2020 and in 2026-2029, and the 70-percentile
results in 2021-2025. Under the Master Plan forecast, RNO’s share of forecast U.S. enplanements (FAA’s
March 2016 Aerospace Forecasts) would remain under 0.25 percent, meaning that RNO would remain a
small hub, except in 2024. RNO’s enplanements would approach their pre-recession peak level of 2.67 million
by 2032.
The high growth forecast is based on the following assumptions:
Organic growth: Organic growth in RNO enplanements would follow the 75-percentile growth rates,
largely driven by more favorable regional and national economic conditions than projected for the
Master Plan forecast.
Aggressive air service development: In addition to organic growth, aggressive air service development
efforts would increase RNO’s market capture rate to 100 percent by 2021.
Under the high growth forecast, annual enplanements are closest to the 95 percentiles in 2017-2023, 90
percentiles in 2024-2030, and 85 percentiles in 2031-2036. They are higher than the TAF by no more than 10
percent through 2036. RNO’s share of total U.S. enplanements would increase to at least 0.25 percent,
qualifying as a medium hub, by 2019. RNO’s enplanements would reach their pre-recession peak level of 2.67
million by 2027.
The 25-percentile result is recommended for a low growth scenario that can be used as a conservative basis
for financial analysis. Forecast annual enplanements are lower than the TAF by no more than 8 percent
through 2020, 15 percent through 2029, and 19 percent through 2036.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-38
Figure 2-30: Historical and Forecast Total Enplanements
Sources: RTAA for historical data, FAA for the TAF, and Unison Consulting, Inc. for the base regression and Monte Carlo simulation
forecasts.
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.8
3.0
3.2
3.4
3.6
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical
Forecast
Enplanements
(Millions)
95%ile
90%ile
High
85%ile
80%ile
75%ile
70%ile
65%ile
60%ile
55%ile
TAF CY
Base
50%ile
45%ile
40%ile
35%ile
30%ile
25%ile
20%ile
15%ile
10%ile
5%ile
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-39
Table 2-8 shows the forecast enplanements for the Master Plan forecast, low growth, and high growth
scenarios. Table 2-9 shows the corresponding forecast passenger aircraft landings, and Table 2-10 shows the
corresponding forecast passenger aircraft landed weight.
Table 2-8: Forecast Enplanements
Scenario
Enplanements (Thousand)
Compound Annual Growth
Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
Master Plan (MP) Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Domestic
1,803
2,
150
2,
385
2,
802
3.6
%
2.
1
%
1.6%
International
20
2
8
32
38
6.8
%
2.
7
%
1.6
%
Total
1,824
2,
178
2,
417
2,
839
3.6
%
2.
1
%
1.6%
Low Growth
Domestic
1,803
1,928
2,041
2,308
1.4%
1.1%
1.2%
International
20
21
22
25
0.4%
1.1%
1.2%
Total
1,824
1,949
2,063
2,304
1.3%
1.1%
1.2%
High Growth
Domestic
1,803
2,284
2,587
3,126
4.8%
2.5%
1.9%
International
20
31
35
42
8.7%
2.5%
1.9%
Total
1,824
2,315
2,622
3,168
4.9%
2.5%
1.9%
TAF, CY, as of Jan. 2017
1,810
2,185
2,393
2,893
3.8%
1.8%
1.9%
Ratio of
MP
Total to TAF
1.01
1.00
1.01
0.
9
8
Ratio of Low Total to TAF
1.01
0.89
0.86
0.
8
1
Ratio of
High
Total to TAF
1.01
1.06
1.10
1.
0
9
Sources: RTAA for actual data, FAA for TAF, and Unison Consulting, Inc. for the forecasts.
The figures for domestic and international enplanements may not add to the total enplanements due to rounding. Total passengers equal two
times enplanements.
Table 2-9: Forecast Commercial Passenger Aircraft Landings
Table 2-10: Forecast Commercial Passenger Aircraft Landed Weight
Scenario
Landed Weight (Million Pounds)
Compound
Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Master Plan Forecast
2,095
2,
504
2,
767
3,
237
3.6
%
2.0
%
1.6%
Low Growth
2,095
2,241
2,362
2,628
1.4%
1.1%
1.1%
High Growth
2,095
2,646
2,986
3,536
4.8%
2.4%
1.7%
Sources: RTAA for actual data, FAA for TAF, and Unison Consulting, Inc. for the forecasts.
Scenario
Landings (Thousand)
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Master Plan Forecast
19.5
23.0
2
4
.
7
2
7
.
7
3.3
%
1.
4
%
1.1%
Low Growth
19.5
20.6
21.1
22.5
1.1%
0.4%
0.6%
High Growth
19.5
24.3
26.6
30.2
4.5%
1.8%
1.3%
Sources: RTAA for actual data, FAA for TAF, and Unison Consulting, Inc. for the
forecasts.
Aircraft landings are assumed to equal aircraft departures; therefore, aircraft operations equal two times aircraft landings.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-40
Figure 2-31 shows the forecast growth in enplanements, under the Master Plan forecast, low growth and
high growth scenarios. Enplanements compared with landings grow at a slower pace because of continuing
efforts by airlines to improve load factors and up-gauge their fleet. Compared with landings, landed weight
grows at faster pace due to fleet up-gauging within both the narrow-body jet and regional jet & turboprop
aircraft groups.
Figure 2-31: Forecast Scenario Growth In Enplanements
Source: Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-32 shows the composition of the passenger aircraft fleet serving RNO. Narrow-body jets account for
most of aircraft operations: 65 percent in 2016, decreasing slightly to 63 percent in 2021, and then
increasing back to 65 percent in 2036. Regional jet and turboprop aircraft account for the remaining share of
35 percent in 2016, increasing to 37 percent in 2021. Turbo prop aircraft are phased out completely by 2026,
so that regional jet aircraft account for the remaining share of 36 percent by 2026 and 35 percent by 2036.
The fleet mix projections consider the age of each aircraft used by each airline at RNO, the types and age of
other aircraft in each airline’s fleet and expected new aircraft deliveries. Assuming a 30-year useful life, older
aircraft are phased out and replaced by newer similar aircraft in an airline’s fleet.
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
170
180
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Growth Index (2016 Level = 100)
High Enplanements
MP Enplanements
Low Enplanements
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-41
Figure 2-32: Forecast Fleet Mix (Shares by Aircraft Group) – Commercial Passenger Carriers
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Table 2-11 shows the calculations for the peak month average day (PMAD) peak hour number of operations
for commercial passenger carriers.
Table 2
-11: Peak Month Average Day Peak Hour Operations – Commercial Passenger Carriers
Scenario
2016 2021 2026 2036
Master Plan
Forecast
Annual Operations 38,900 45,900 49,200 55,100
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 3,600 4,300 4,600 5,100
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 117 137 147 165
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 9 10 11 12
Low Growth Forecast
Annual Operations 38,900 41,100 42,000 45,300
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 3,600 3,800 3,900 4,200
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 117 123 126 136
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 9 9 9 10
High Growth Forecast
Annual Operations 38,900 48,500 53,100 61,100
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 3,600 4,500 4,900 5,700
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 117 145 159 183
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 9 11 12 14
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc. Annual operations and peak month operations are rounded to
the nearest hundred.
63%
61%
60%
59%
18%
30%
40%
41%
19%
9%
2016 2021 2026 2036
Turboprop
Regional jet
Narrow-body jet
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-42
Table 2-12 shows the calculations for the PMAD peak hour number of passengers.
Table 2
-12: Master Plan Forecast Peak Month Average Day Peak Hour Passengers –
Commercial Passenger Carriers
Scenario
2016 2021 2026 2036
Master Plan
Forecast
Annual Passengers 3,647,200 4,357,000 4,833,500 5,678,700
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 333,900 398,900 442,600 520,000
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 10,773 12,869 14,277 16,773
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 829 990 1,099 1,291
Low Growth Forecast
Annual Passengers 3,647,200 3,898,300 4,126,300 4,665,200
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 333,900 356,900 377,800 427,200
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 10,773 11,514 12,188 13,779
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 829 886 938 1,060
High Growth Forecast
Annual Passengers 3,647,200 4,629,300 5,244,600 6,335,500
Peak Month (9.3% of CY Total) 333,900 423,900 480,200 580,100
Peak Month Average Day (PMAD) (PM Subtotal/31 days) 10,773 13,674 15,491 18,713
PMAD Peak Hour (7.5% of PMAD Subtotal) 829 1,052 1,192 1,440
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc. Annual passengers and peak month passengers are rounded to
the nearest hundred.
Commercial Air Cargo
Regional Competition
While national dynamics undoubtedly impact local and regional demand, RNO’s competitive environment is
more clearly delineated on a regional basis. RNO’s service area potentially overlaps with at least six airports
that rank among the top 20 U.S. airports ranked by annual tonnage. LAX accounts for as much total cargo
tonnage as the next five largest airports in the region and as much daily international cargo capacity as all
other airports in the region. Accounting for more than half its total, LAX’s international cargo exceeded a
million tonnes in 2015. In order, the next largest international cargo gateways in the region are SFO, SEA and
PDX. Since 2000, LAX has continued to add international freighter operations, even as its nearest competitor,
SFO, suffered freighter service losses. SEA has experienced only modest freighter growth but has been
greatly enhanced by the expansion of hub carrier Delta’s transpacific gateway there. PDX has only
periodically attracted scheduled international freighter service because of subsidies proffered by the State of
Oregon. Figure 2-33 shows total air cargo tonnage for airports in the Western U.S for 2015.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-43
Figure 2-33: Total Air Cargo Tonnage (Metric) for Top U.S. West Airports for Calendar Year 2015
Sources: Airports Council International – North America and Webber Air Cargo, Inc.
In terms of tonnage alone, LAX’s nearest competitors are not major international gateways but rather the
regional hubs of integrated carriers FedEx and UPS. OAK for FedEx and southern California’s Ontario National
Airport (ONT) for UPS provide hubs for shipments moving entirely within the western region, as well as
linkages two integrated carriers’ national hubs, Memphis International Airport (MEM) for FedEx and
Louisville International Airport (SDF) for UPS, and other regional hubs. As with most cargo or passenger hubs,
OAK and ONT owe their high rankings more to connecting traffic than to local demand. Apart from the
international gateways and integrator hubs, all other airports in the region serve similar functions as spokes
serving local demand in cargo carrier networks – albeit with slight variances for passenger hubs and marginal
international passenger service at PHX, DEN and SLC.
For airport operators aspiring to nurture cargo growth, these gateway and hub networks impose barriers. At
international gateways, freight forwarders and other shippers rely upon network connectivity – the mix of
carriers (passenger and all-cargo), flight frequencies and direct destinations. The dominance of a gateway
such as LAX, which offers both passenger and freighter service to every single transcontinental market served
by any other gateway on North America’s west coast, makes new alternative gateways extremely unlikely.
Many freight forwarders and shippers based nearer rival gateways such as SFO and SEA still truck cargo
to/from LAX due simply to the reliability of the unique diversity of service offerings.
1,939
511
463
459
333
283
248
216
171
162
99
64
63
49
53
41
-
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
1,800
2,000
LAX OAK ONT SFO SEA PHX DEN PDX SLC SAN LAS SMF RNO SJC MHR BOI
Metric Tonnes
Thousands
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-44
Similarly, the presence of regional integrated carrier hubs at ONT and OAK limit growth of any other airport
in the region by either carrier to organically grow based upon local or regional demand. Notably, the RNO
market has been uncommonly strong in terms of local demand through what has been a difficult period for
most U.S. airports. Illustrated in Figure 2-34, according to the Phase 1: Air Cargo Market Study completed by
Campbell-Hill Aviation Group, LLC in August 2015, RNO’s competitive advantages are “based on a location
with excellent access to the Western U.S., a positive business environment, and the continued expansion of
industrial activity.” RNO must rely on organic cargo growth because it is not a regional hub, nor a hub for any
domestic all-cargo airline. Without the connecting traffic of a hub, RNO’s cargo growth depends upon
demand generated by local industry within its service area. RNO’s annual tonnage grew by about 10,000
metric tonnes while regional tonnage dropped by about 1.5 million tonnes.
Figure 2-34: Air Cargo Growth at Major West Airports from Calendar Year 2000 through 2015
Sources: Airports Council International – North America and Webber Air Cargo, Inc.
For nearly all U.S. airports, calendar year 2000 was the peak year for cargo tonnage before an extended
decline from which most have yet to entirely emerge. At LAX, double-digit growth in international cargo has
been insufficient to offset double-digit decreases in domestic cargo. The extended recession following 9/11
combined with unprecedented fuel costs have forced several former major all-cargo carriers such as BAX
Global, Emery Worldwide and Kitty Hawk to ground freighter aircraft, to be acquired, or into bankruptcy.
During the same period, DHL acquired the former Airborne Express before withdrawing from the US
domestic market to concentrate entirely on international shipments to/from the U.S. market. While DHL
remains a global powerhouse active in other regions of the world, it withdrew from the head-to-head
competition with FedEx and UPS for domestic shipments in the U.S.
23%
-22%
-70%
-60%
-50%
-40%
-30%
-20%
-10%
0%
10%
20%
30%
LAX
OAK
ONT
SFO
SEA
PHX
DEN
PDX
SLC
SAN
LAS
SMF
RNO
SJC
MHR
BOI
GROUP
Percentage Growth Since 2000
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-45
Historic Cargo Trends
Figure 2-35 shows the RNO market has a pronounced peak month for air cargo tonnage with December
roughly doubling the tonnage of average months during the recent growth period. For master planning
purposes, peak months are useful for gauging the adequacy of airport capacity.
Figure 2-35: RNO Total Air Cargo Tonnage by Month for Calendar Years 2009 through 2016
Sources: The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority with additional analysis by Webber Air Cargo, Inc.
The integrated carriers have a variety of means by which to accommodate tonnage growth, not least the
tradeoff between frequencies and aircraft gauge. Furthermore, carriers blend routing decisions into that
tradeoff with the result that more and/or larger freighters can be used in a market than its own demand
would otherwise justify. For example, DHL’s B737 freighter operates over DEN to and from its Cincinnati/
Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) hub and RNO to maximize revenue payloads. FedEx routes
flights over Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and occasionally LAS between RNO and western hub
OAK but operates nonstop between its MEM hub and RNO. UPS uses stops in SLC, DEN, Mather Air Force
Base (MHR), PDX, and Boeing Field (BFI) in Seattle to complement routes connecting RNO to regional hubs at
ONT, PHL and its global hub in SDF. Consequently, carriers can occasionally accommodate increased tonnage
in a market by simply increasing the payload dedicated to that market (possibly by eliminating stops in other
markets) without adding frequencies or increasing aircraft size.
For seasonal peaks, airlines are reluctant to purchase aircraft but instead may lease them from aircraft, crew,
maintenance and insurance (ACMI) companies. An example is Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which is the
holding company for Atlas Air and Southern Air, as well as the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo. DHL is
the minority (49 percent) shareholder in Polar and uses Southern Air to serve RNO. DHL also uses Redding
Aero with turboprop Cessna Caravans for service to SFO with intermediate service over MHR inbound.
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
Metric Tonnes
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-46
While the increase in landing weights and decrease in frequencies at RNO in recent years indicates a trend
toward heavier freighters, a ceiling exists for how large of freighters should reasonably be anticipated for
planning purposes at RNO. As RNO continues to serve only as a spoke in domestic networks for integrated
carriers, the basic fleet mix is likely to remain with adjustments more prone to involve frequencies and
elimination of non-hub stops. Currently, DHL’s main service is a single daily (Monday through Friday) B737-
400 and a Cessna 208 (Caravan) supplementing capacity. FedEx’s fleet at RNO currently entails Boeing 757-
200 and MD10-30 aircraft but FedEx may also use MD-11 and A300-600 freighters. UPS currently uses B757-
200, B767-300 and A300-600 freighters.
While RTAA has studied its potential need to accommodate larger aircraft, that demand is unlikely to come
from all-cargo operators on any but an occasional charter. In gauging ramp capacity, schedules are as
significant as fleets. FedEx and UPS operate in “windows” that allow aircraft parking positions to be reused in
a 24-hour day. FedEx’s current holiday (peak) schedule has five daily landings and five daily departures at
RNO on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday with reduced schedules on other days. However, FedEx’s
schedules have two morning arrivals and departures completed within a 3.5-hour window about nine hours
before evening operations begin, and the third of its evening flights is scheduled to arrive after the first
leaves. Unless FedEx experiences a delay locally or as a derived effect in its system, it should not have more
than two aircraft parked at RNO simultaneously. UPS has similar morning and evening windows scheduled to
minimize the number of concurrent aircraft on the ground. UPS has a maximum of seven daily arrivals and
seven departures but could go to ten each in the week before Christmas. UPS occasionally requires three
aircraft parking positions, which is a challenge since it must use one of three contiguous positions for ground
support equipment storage and handling. Both FedEx and UPS attempt to have weekday aircraft on the
ground for only 90-120 minutes.
Requirements for separation of aircraft restrict which aircraft can be parked simultaneously on RNO’s ramps.
FedEx and UPS may use a reliever ramp between the cargo complex and the passenger terminal, except
when used for Customs clearance for international passengers. The cargo carriers support growing
international passenger service at RNO but without new infrastructure, growth will continue to impact access
for them.
Figure 2-36 substantiates a perception shared by both FedEx and UPS that Reno is a significantly stronger
outbound market. Further review of FAA T-100 data shows that outbound cargo is roughly 50 percent higher
than inbound cargo for the two integrators and for the belly cargo carriers, while DHL has a slight imbalance
in favor of inbound tonnage. To resolve such imbalances, carriers will schedule additional stops, in both
directions, between RNO and the hub.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-47
Figure 2-36: RNO Shares of Enplaned and Deplaned Cargo for Calendar Year 2016
Sources: FAA T-100 with additional analysis by Webber Air Cargo, Inc.
On-airport real estate is typically priced higher, motivating carriers to minimize their on-airport footprint.
However, bankruptcies and mergers of multiple all-cargo carriers often have resulted in lower occupancy
that drives leasing closer to off-airport rates. Still, on-airport cargo facilities are much more marketable to
carriers and handlers specifically needing to locate there, while freight forwarders and trucking companies
whose demand is multi-modal are inclined to locate distribution centers off-airport. Even FedEx and UPS
have much local warehouse capacity nearby but off-airport. These are principally used for shipments that do
not require overnight air transport but can also supplement on-airport warehouse capacity during peak
seasons when containers may be trucked directly to/from the aircraft ramp through the gate, rather than
through the warehouse.
With relatively few transfers between aircraft (“tail-to-tail”), RNO’s cargo operations almost entirely match
truck and van transport to/from the landside docks of cargo buildings to interface with warehouse laborers.
All RNO’s cargo buildings are located north of the passenger terminal on the west side of the airfield with
direct gate access to the roadways and contiguous apron access on the airside.
With only belly cargo capacity, Southwest Airlines was RNO’s third-largest cargo carrier in 2015. With a
dramatic increase in mail, American Airlines has closed some of the gap with Southwest Airlines among belly
carriers at RNO. While other U.S. belly carriers outsource cargo handling and warehouse operations,
Southwest Airlines has been prone to keep these functions in-house. With very little automation, pure belly
cargo operations tend to be less efficient (requiring more space per ton of cargo). Narrow-body aircraft
operated by Southwest and other largely domestic carriers cannot accommodate cargo containers or pallets.
OUTBOUND
61%
INBOUND
39%
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-48
The Air Cargo Market Analysis performed by Campbell-Hill Aviation Group in 2015 concluded that RNO is
adequately served in terms of domestic cargo service but that local companies could be at a disadvantage
due to limited access to international markets. On the contrary, initial findings indicate that RNO’s prospects
for international air service development are relatively remote, but RNO imposes existing challenges for
carriers already accounting for about 95 percent of annual tonnage. While reasons for RNO’s lack of
international all-cargo service are almost certainly market-related and therefore unlikely to be affected by
RTAA’s initiatives, negative impacts on its domestic operations are facilities-oriented and therefore within its
sphere of influence.
Forecast Air Cargo Activity
Forecast development for air cargo activity uses a hybrid approach combining the use of institutional industry
forecasts and regression techniques. In particular, institutional forecasts set the limits of long-term growth.
Given these limits, regression analysis produced annual forecasts of air cargo traffic for the Master Plan and
two alternative growth scenarios (low and high).
Between calendar year 2000, which was the peak year for most U.S. airports, and 2015 (inclusive), RNO’s
total cargo had a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.37 percent that may seem modest, but it
occurred during a double-digit tonnage decrease for the combined top 16 cargo airports in its region. Using a
simple time-series analysis for RNO’s growth rate implies that the recent past is replicable, which is an
unlikely assumption. For the U.S. air cargo industry, the period since 2000 had unprecedented upheavals with
extraordinary recessions hitting demand drivers, and a sustained period of unprecedented increases in fuel
costs that caused the premature retirement of many older freighters. Many formerly major all-cargo carriers,
such as Airborne Express, BAX Global, Emery Worldwide and Kitty Hawk, either ceased operations or were
acquired by larger carriers that rationalized their operations into their own networks. One would be unlikely
to project continued losses for most airports in the region based on that extraordinary period. Since RNO
fared comparatively well a slightly more optimistic forecast going forward may seem justified, but also casts
doubt on the straight application of the historical CAGR.
Similarly, multiple regression analysis alone would not be sufficient for developing long-term forecasts for
RNO because the historical associations of air cargo with traditional market drivers have diverged since the
U.S. transformed into more of a service economy less reliant upon manufacturing. Moreover, cargo is much
more flexible than passenger demand with shipments routinely trucked 500-1,000 miles to access
international gateways, as well as final users. At localized markets like RNO, trucking offers a readily available
substitute for air cargo services.
For RNO, the application of institutional forecasts, such as those of Airbus and/or Boeing, would be
informative. For example, Airbus projects domestic U.S. air cargo to grow at a CAGR of 1.7 percent for the
period 2015-2025 and 1.6 percent for period 2025-2035. The U.S. all-cargo market is the most mature in the
world and has fully absorbed the results of deregulation over the last 45 years. Therefore, modest future
growth rates, which are significantly more conservative than international growth rates, are well justified,
especially since domestic cargo transport is more susceptible to modal substitution than intercontinental
transport for which trucks cannot compete. Given RNO’s historical CAGR of 1.37 percent between 2000 and
2015 during a period of contraction, the Airbus forecasts of 1.6 to 1.7 percent are within a credible band of
expectations. As DHL’s tonnage at RNO is largely international, a slight premium could be applied to its
market share. Boeing projects a more optimistic 2.2 percent growth rate for the period 2015-2035.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-49
For the RNO master plan, the Master Plan air cargo consultant recommends a forecast growth rate between
1.5 and 2.2 percent rate for RNO air cargo. The Master Plan forecast uses the upper bound of this range, 2.2
percent average annual growth rate for the 20-year forecast period. The low growth forecast uses the lower
bound of 1.5 percent average annual growth. The high growth forecast is derived from the results of a
regression analysis of RNO air cargo on national economic trends and regional economic trends. The national
economic trends are measured by real U.S. per capita GDP, while the regional economic trends are measured
by nonfarm employment in the Reno CSA. The results from the regression analysis are used in combination
with the institutional forecasts to produce the annual forecasts shown in Figure 2-37.
Figure 2-37: Forecast Air Cargo (Enplaned and Deplaned)
Source: RTAA for historical data and Webber Air Cargo for the forecasts.
All cargo operations are anticipated to grow more modestly. As a result the growth in cargo tonnage will be
spread among FedEx and UPS, with very small shares going to DHL and to passenger carriers as belly cargo.
Moreover, cargo growth can be met through larger aircraft and dedicating more payload to RNO on multi-
stop routes, which are common to RNO, before additional operations become necessary.
Currently, FedEx at 61 percent and UPS at 33 percent account for a combined 94 percent market share at
RNO with the balance being DHL at 3 percent and all passenger airlines at a combined 3 percent. These
relative shares are projected to remain the same over the forecast period. The only means by which belly
cargo’s market share at RNO would grow is if RNO attracts transcontinental passenger flights with more
cargo-friendly belly capacities than RNO’s current domestic flights. This would increase tonnage slightly but
would not increase all-cargo operations, because that marginal contribution would be on passenger flights.
281 M lbs
242 M lbs
211 M lbs
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
Million Pounds
High Growth
Base Growth
Low Growth
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-50
All three all-cargo incumbents have established hub-and-spoke networks that should limit RNO’s use as a
spoke serving local and regional O&D demand. The most impressive recent growth rate has been by DHL,
which still only amounts to a three percent market share.
In the near to medium-term, the most unpredictable aspect of domestic cargo growth at RNO will be
whether Amazon expands its Prime Air network to include RNO, and how much of that growth will be
stimulus versus a cannibalization of demand already transported for Amazon by incumbent carriers at RNO.
RNO’s roughly 20 percent growth between 2000 and 2015 amounts to a net gain of about 10,000 metric
tonnes spread over fifteen years. Using a five-day work week, that increase amounts to about 40 tonnes/day.
That would be the low end of payloads for a single medium wide-body freighter aircraft used by FedEx and
UPS for domestic flights. It must be further discounted because that increase would be split between an
inbound and outbound operation. Moreover, that growth is not captured by a single carrier but spread
among multiple carriers.
Cargo carriers have multiple means of accommodating increased demand without adding additional
operations. Specifically, carriers can increase aircraft gauge, as well as increase the payload dedicated to the
local market when aircraft is shared among multiple stops on routes between hubs and spokes. The extent to
which DHL, FedEx, and UPS already use multiple stops was documented in previous cargo analysis for the
master plan effort.
The domestic market share stays at 100 percent. Apart from infrequent international charter flights, RNO’s
scheduled annual cargo tonnage in recent years has come entirely from domestic operations. Most
international demand from RNO’s service area is served by truck to and from LAX, with SFO as a strong
secondary alternative and tertiary options such as SEA and other predominantly belly cargo, for international
capacity, gateways. Although cultivating international cargo flights has been an occasional priority for RTAA,
forecasting RNO’s tonnage to remain almost entirely domestic is justified. Even during the challenging period
since 2000, LAX expanded its dominance over other west coast gateways, which still have surplus capacity
before RNO is likely to become a compelling option. Notably, all tonnage reported for DHL and its ACMI
carriers comprises international shipments transported on domestic flights to and from DHL’s international
gateways, principally its CVG hub. But for reporting and forecasting purposes, this would still be reflected as
domestic cargo.
Table 2-13 summarizes the forecasts of air cargo activity for three scenarios: base, low and high growth.
Total air cargo would grow from 156.4 million pounds in 2016 to 242.3 million pounds in 2036 under the
master plan forecast growth scenario, to 211 million pounds under the low growth scenario, and to 281
million pounds under the high growth scenario. All-cargo carriers are projected to continue to account for
the predominant share (97 percent), and passenger carriers (belly cargo) account for the remaining share (3
percent). All-cargo carrier operations and landed weight are projected to grow at a slower pace than total
cargo under the master plan and high growth scenarios, because much of the growth in total cargo could be
accommodated with increased payload on each flight. Under the low growth scenario, all-cargo carrier
operations and landed weight are projected to remain constant over the forecast period, because the
projected growth in air cargo could be accommodated by increasing payload on existing flights even without
any change in aircraft.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-51
Current 2016 fleet mix for cargo carriers is shown in Table 2-14. Cargo operators typically use aircraft over a
longer lifespan than passenger air carrier airlines. Cargo operators have shown to operate aircraft over 30
years after delivery. FedEx has indicated MD 10 and 11 series aircraft will be phased out by 2021 and
replaced by Boeing 767/300. The forecasts assume no other changes in the cargo fleet mix serving RNO.
More information on future cargo equipment will be presented in Chapter 3 – Facility Requirements.
Table 2-13: Forecast Air Cargo Activity
Measure or
Scenario
Levels
Compound
Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
20
1
6
-
2036
Enplaned and Deplaned Air Cargo (Million Pounds)
Master Plan 156.4 178.9 200.5 242.3 2.7% 2.3% 1.9% 2.2%
All-cargo 151.8 173.7 194.7 235.2 2.7% 2.3% 1.9% 2.2%
Belly cargo 4.6 5.2 5.9 7.1 2.7% 2.3% 1.9% 2.2%
Low Growth 156.4 171.5 185.4 211.0 1.9% 1.6% 1.3% 1.5%
All-cargo 151.8 166.5 180.0 204.9 1.9% 1.6% 1.3% 1.5%
Belly cargo 4.6 5.0 5.4 6.2 1.9% 1.6% 1.3% 1.5%
High Growth 156.4 187.1 218.0 281.0 3.7% 3.1% 2.6% 3.0%
All-cargo 151.8 181.7 211.7 272.8 3.7% 3.1% 2.6% 3.0%
Belly cargo 4.6 5.5 6.4 8.2 3.7% 3.1% 2.6% 3.0%
All
-
Cargo Aircraft Operations (Thousand)
Master Plan 5.0 5.2 5.4 5.8 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 0.7%
Low Growth 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
High Growth 5.0 5.4 5.8 6.7 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%
All
-
Cargo Aircraft Landed Weight (Million Pounds)
Master Plan 611 580 600 644 -1.1% 0.7% 0.7% 0.3%
Low Growth 611 560 560 560 -1.8% 0.0% 0.0% -0.4%
High Growth 611 602 647 748 -0.3% 1.5% 1.5% 1.0%
Sources: Unison Consulting, Inc., and Webber Air Cargo
Table 2
-14: All-Cargo Carrier Fleet Mix
All-Cargo Carrier/Aircraft
Share of All
-
Cargo Aircraft
Operations (2016)
Share of All
-
Cargo Aircraft
Operations (Future)
FedEx 44.4% 44.4%
A300-600 0.6% 0.6%
Boeing 757-200 23.1% 23.1%
MD 10-30 / 11 (to be phased out) 20.7% N/A
B-767/300ER (New) N/A 20.7%
UPS 35.8% 35.8%
A300-600 15.6% 15.6%
B757-200 18.8% 18.8%
B-767/300ER 1.3% 1.3%
DHL 19.9% 19.9%
B737-400 (main) 10.4% 10.4%
Turboprop - Cessna 208 (supplement) 9.5% 9.5%
Source: RTAA records, Detail Landing Report CY 2016
Percentages may not equal 100 due to rounding.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-52
The peak month for all-cargo carrier operations is December. On average, 12 percent of all-cargo carrier
operations take place during this month. The forecast of all-cargo carrier operations for the peak month is
based on the monthly distribution of all-cargo operations for the last three years, illustrated in Table 2-15.
Table 2-15: Monthly Distribution and the Peak Month of All-Cargo Carrier Operations
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2014 8.3%
7.6%
7.7%
8.0%
8.1%
7.6%
9.0%
8.3%
7.6%
8.7%
7.6%
11.4%
2015 8.1%
7.2%
7.5%
7.8%
7.6%
7.5%
8.5%
7.6%
8.6%
9.1%
8.1%
12.3%
2016 7.9%
7.3%
8.6%
8.1%
7.6%
8.5%
8.0%
8.5%
8.1%
7.9%
8.1%
11.5%
2014-2016 8.1%
7.4%
8.0%
8.0%
7.8%
7.9%
8.5%
8.1%
8.1%
8.6%
7.9%
11.8%
Sources: RTAA for actual data on all-cargo carrier landings in 2014-2016 and Unison Consulting, Inc. for analysis.
Table 2-16 shows the forecast annual, peak month, PMAD, and PMAD peak hour aircraft operations for all-
cargo carriers.
Table 2
-16: Peak Month Average Day Peak Hour Operations – All-Cargo Carriers
Scenario
2016 2021 2026 2036
Master Plan
Forecast
Annual Operations
5,040
5,220
5,406
5,798
Peak Month (11.8% of CY Total)
593
615
636
683
PMAD (PM Subtotal/31 days)
19
20
21
22
PMAD Peak Hour (14.3% of PMAD Subtotal)
3
3
3
3
Low Growth Forecast
Annual Operations
5,040
5,040
5,040
5,040
Peak Month (11.8% of CY Total)
593
593
593
593
PMAD (PM Subtotal/31 days)
19
19
19
19
PMAD Peak Hour (14.3% of PMAD Subtotal)
3
3
3
3
High Growth Forecast
Annual Operations
5,040
5,420
5,828
6,738
Peak Month (11.8% of CY Total)
593
638
686
793
PMAD (PM Subtotal/31 days)
19
21
22
26
PMAD Peak Hour (14.3% of PMAD Subtotal)
3
3
3
4
Sources: OAG Schedules Analyzer and Unison Consulting, Inc
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-53
Noncommercial Aviation Activity
Noncommercial aviation activity includes operations of GA and military aircraft. This section describes the
historical trends particularly in GA operations at RNO and nationwide. It presents forecasts of GA operations,
military operations, and based aircraft for RNO.
GA is important to the region and the region’s airport system. The RTAA considers GA to be a key contributor
to regional economic growth and development, and an integral component of the airport system and RNO’s
future development. One of RTAA’s strategic goals is to optimize GA at RNO by: (1) encouraging a variety of
FBO contracts and other service vendors, (2) attracting jet service centers and maintenance/repair facilities,
and (3) optimizing GA customer service experience.
GA services are provided by RNO’s Fixed Based Operator (FBO), Atlantic Aviation. Atlantic Aviation is the
largest FBO in the United States. Open 24/7, Atlantic Aviation RNO provides comprehensive GA services
including fueling, deicing, executive terminal services, aircraft maintenance, hangar rentals, among others. In
2013, Atlantic Aviation embarked on a $9 million total rebuild of its FBO facility at RNO to enhance service
offerings to GA customers.
Other GA businesses and services based at RNO include:
Civil Air Patrol-Nevada Wing, which provides cadet programs, aerospace education, and emergency
services;
Dassault Aircraft Services, a 40,000-square-foot service center, fully capable of performing
troubleshooting, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and inspections up to and including “C”
checks for Falcon Jet business aircraft;
Flying Start Aero, Northern Nevada’s only Cessna Pilot Center providing pilot instruction and scenic-
photo tours over Lake Tahoe and the surrounding points of interest;
Global Aviation Services, one of the fastest growing maintenance service providers in North America with
a network of more than 180 technicians at 53 airports;
Reno Flying Service, serving GA needs since the 1940s, the only full-service aircraft maintenance shop at
RNO; and
WhisperJet Helicopters, established in 1993 to provide helicopter rental, parts sales, and maintenance
services.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-54
Historical Trends in Noncommercial Aviation Activity
Airport Trends
RNO’s GA activity, comprised of itinerant and local operations, covers non-commercial and non-military
passenger or cargo services provided at RNO. Itinerant operations are flights going to and coming from a
different airport and have generally accounted for the large majority of RNO’s GA operations. Local
operations include flights within the local traffic pattern of an airport or within sight of an airport. Local GA
operations typically include operations related to personal and instructional flying and include flights to
designated practice areas within 20 miles of an airport. Most business and corporate-related GA activity is
grouped under itinerant operations. Other aerial GA activities, such as sightseeing, observation, air medical,
etc., account for a small share of GA operations, and would also fall under the local GA category.
Various types of GA aircraft are used to cover a broad spectrum of local GA service needs at RNO. GA aircraft
based at RNO range from one-seat single piston airplanes to long-range corporate jets. In 2015, single-engine
airplanes accounted for 60 percent of RNO’s based aircraft, while multi-engines accounted for 15 percent,
and jets accounted for 14 percent. The remaining based aircraft include helicopters at 4 percent and military
planes at 6 percent. Figure 2-38 shows the composition of based aircraft types at RNO.
Figure 2-38: RNO Based Aircraft Composition, 2015
Source: Airport IQ 5010 and Unison Consulting, Inc.
76 Single Engine
60%
19 Multi Engine
15%
18 Jet
14%
5 Helicopter
4%
8 Military
6%
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-55
Since GA activity typically satisfies local demands for air transport, including business travel, emergency
transport, flight instruction and recreational flying, it is sensitive to both national and local economic
conditions. RNO’s GA activity has declined since the early 1990s, and especially since the Great Recession of
2008-2009. Annual GA activity was more than halved after the recession, declining from over 60,000 to
around 27,000 operations per year. Commensurate to this decline, the number of based aircraft at the RNO
has also decreased over the past two and a half decades. In addition to the economic impacts associated with
the recession, other factors such as high oil prices and changes in the labor market and aircraft production
have played a role in depressing GA activity at RNO.
Figure 2-39 shows the trends in GA operations at RNO from 2000 and the breakdown between itinerant and
local operations. Figure 2-40 shows the distribution of GA operations between local and itinerant operations
in the last five years. Itinerant operations accounted for as much as 88 percent in 2014. Although their share
decreased slightly in 2015, they appear to be bouncing back with an 87 percent share in 2016.
Figure 2-39: General Aviation Operations at RNO, 2000-2016
Source: FAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-40: Local and Itinerant GA Operations – Percentage Distribution
Source: FAA ATADS and Unison Consulting, Inc.
60,007
65,481
62,935
25,233
26,775
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Local
Itinerant
82%
87%
88%
86%
87%
18%
13%
12%
14%
13%
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Local
Itinerant
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-56
As shown in Figure 2-41, GA operations exhibit a seasonal pattern. They are highest during the month of
September. On average, 12 percent of GA operations take place during this month, based on data in the last
five years. September is a peak month for GA traffic, specifically itinerant GA, primarily due to local events
that are held in August and September. Since the early 1990s, Burning Man has taken place in the Black Rock
Desert in Nevada, north of Reno. This event has attracted more than 50,000 participants annually since 2010.
Approximately one-third of these visitors use RNO for both commercial and GA services. The National
Championship Air Races also takes place every September just north of Reno. Various types of GA aircraft
from the region fly to RNO for the event. Over the past 10 years, this event has brought more than 150,000
spectators to the region, contributing to an increase in itinerant traffic at RNO.
Figure 2-41: Local and Itinerant GA Operations – Distribution by Month
Source: FAA ATADS and Unison Consulting, Inc.
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
GA Operations
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-57
National Trends
The decrease in GA activity at RNO follows the national trend that began four decades ago. Figure 2-42
exhibits RNO’s trends in GA operations alongside national trends since 1990. Clearly the U.S. economic
recessions, especially the Great Recession in 2008-2009 and the subsequent slow economic recovery
depressed GA activity, but other factors also contributed to the fall in traffic. The pilot population has
declined since reaching its peak in the 1980s. The production and deliveries of GA aircraft have also
decreased amid the aging of the existing fleet. Finally, aviation fuel prices rose to record high levels until their
recent decline.
3
Figure 2-42: General Aviation Total Operations Index (1990 level=100)
Source: Federal Aviation Administration Air Traffic Activity Data System and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Pilot Population
The number of active pilots in the U.S. has continued to decrease in recent years, from a high of over 827,000
pilots in 1980. The FAA’s U.S. Civil Airmen statistics show that the population of active pilots was 584,362 in
2016, down from 590,039 in 2015 and 593,499 in 2014. This statistic includes pilots ranging from student
pilots, to pilots with recreational, sports, rotorcraft, glider, private, commercial, and air transport licenses.
While the sum of these pilot categories has declined gradually over the past decade, there are some
differences in their individual trends (Figure 2-43).
3
Kamala I. Shetty and R. John Hansman, “Current and Historical Trends in General Aviation in the United States,” Report
No. ICAT-2012-6, MIT International Center for Air Transportation, August 2012.
RNO, 31
US System, 63
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-58
The number of airline transport pilots (ATP) has increased since the end of the 2008-2009 economic
recession, approaching its 1990 levels in 2016. On the other hand, the pilot population with commercial and
private licenses has declined since the recession. The decrease in commercial pilot licenses, with a nearly
proportional increase in ATP certificates, is primarily driven by the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation
Administration Extension Act of 2010. This legislative change mandated that all flight crew members of
scheduled airlines (part 121 carriers) would hold an ATP certificate by August 2013. Grouped in the other
category, pilots with recreational, sport, rotorcraft, and glider active licenses exhibited growth through the
recession, but their growth appears to have levelled off afterwards and even decreased in 2016. Finally,
although the number of active student pilots has increased in recent years, new certifications appear to have
not grown fast enough to offset the number of retiring pilots.
4
Certificate statistics, however, cannot be used
to accurately determine the number of GA pilots or, more broadly, the number of full-time pilots. Pilots who
fly for personal and/or business purposes may hold higher FAA certificates or ratings.
Figure 2-43: Active Pilots (2005 level=100)
4
The student pilot population significantly increased in 2010, increasing the total number of active pilots. However, this
increase may be partly due to the FAA’s decision that year to extend the validity period of student certificates from 36
to 60 months for pilots under the age of 40.
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Pilot--Total Student Private
Commercial Airline Transport Other
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-59
Aircraft Production
GA aircraft deliveries by U.S. manufacturers declined significantly in the 1980s and early 1990s before the
passage of the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) in 1994. By lessening the liability burden of aircraft
and parts manufacturers, GARA helped manufacturers increase aircraft production and meet the growing
demand for aircraft during this period. By 2007, aircraft deliveries had increased to 3,279 units, up from their
lowest level of 929 in 1994.
5
Other factors, including growth in the economy, entrance by new manufacturing
companies, and the spread of fractional aircraft ownership programs played a role in the increase of GA
aircraft deliveries. However, shipments decreased sharply to 1,334 units in 2010 due to the recession. While
yearly shipments increased slightly to 1,631 units between 2010 and 2014, GAMA’s General Aviation Aircraft
Shipment Report shows declines in more recent years, down to 1,592 in 2015 and 1,525 in 2016. The share of
exported aircraft shipments has decreased from its peak of 51.6 percent to 29.7 percent in 2010. Therefore,
while recent years saw a decline of U.S. GA aircraft production, the share of delivered aircraft staying in the
country has increased.
Fuel Costs
The rise and volatility in the cost of fuel significantly affected GA operating costs. Towered GA operations
across airports in the U.S. declined during periods of fuel price surges. Although the nominal cost of fuel rose
to its highest levels in 2012, recent years saw a substantial decrease. Fuel prices fell by more than 40 percent
in 2015, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration does not anticipate they will rise in the short run.
While GA aircraft operators and owners may enjoy lower fuel costs for now, the unpredictable nature of fuel
prices makes it difficult to project future costs. In addition to volatile fuel prices, there is greater uncertainty
in the GA community due to potential barriers to the supply of aviation gasoline used by piston-engine
aircraft.
Other Costs
The GA activity decline also relates to higher aircraft ownership costs. Total billings for aircraft manufactured
in the U.S. increased through the recent economic recession. However, since there were also cuts in aircraft
production during that period, this suggests that aircraft acquisition costs were growing significantly.
6
With
the exception of 2016, increases in total billings continued since 2009, while shipment remained relatively
flat and even decreased in the last two years. Thus, aircraft purchase costs are still relatively high, and the
slow introduction of new aircraft leaves the GA market dominated by older fleets, which are more expensive
to maintain.
5
While this growth in shipments is impressive, the number of aircraft delivered annually was still far below the historic
peak in the late 1970s with the delivery of nearly 18,000 units.
6
Kamala I. Shetty and R. John Hansman (ibid.)
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-60
Noncommercial Aviation Activity Forecasts
Analyzing monthly traffic trends at RNO together with demand-side drivers of air traffic forms the basis for
forecasting GA operations. Multivariate time series regression analysis is used to link changes in GA
operations to trends in local demand drivers. This approach combines elements of multiple regression and
time series regression analysis, providing the ability to incorporate many explanatory variables while
quantifying their unique contributions to GA activity trends. Using the least squares method, the model
estimation process is designed to minimize forecast errors. GA operations are strongly seasonal at RNO, and
the modeling approach accounts for seasonality, while controlling for serial correlation and common trends
over time between operations and explanatory variables.
GA services satisfy local demands for air transport, including business travel, emergency transportation, flight
training, and tourism. In view of these local drivers, variables that capture regional economic trends are
incorporated into the forecast model. Considering potential differences in their drivers and in their historic
trends at RNO, itinerant and local GA operations were modeled separately.
The regression model for RNO’s GA operations is specified to measure the contribution of economic factors
that drive GA activity, while controlling for both seasonal and sustained traffic trends. Regression coefficients
measure contributions of demand drivers (explanatory variables) to RNO’s GA activity growth trends. These
coefficients are estimated using monthly data from 1995.
7
Period-specific dummy variables in the regression
control for the seasonal nature of RNO’s GA activity, and a time index controls for inherent trends over time.
The estimated regression coefficients are then used to generate forecasts of GA activity at RNO based on
projected trends for the model’s explanatory variables.
The model specification for itinerant GA operations includes the following explanatory variables: real per-
capita GDP of the Reno CSA , real jet fuel price,
8
dummy variables to capture the impacts of the 9/11 terrorist
attacks, a linear trend variable to control for common trends over time between operations and explanatory
variables, and indicator variables for the months of the year to capture seasonal effects.
9
The model
specification also includes corrections for autocorrelation (correlation of current and prior values of the
dependent variable). The model specification for local GA operations is similar in construction. However, the
Reno CSA’s population was used instead of real per-capita GDP to indicate regional trends, because
population proved to be a stronger predictor of local GA operations.
7
The beginning of the sample period was chosen to avoid the years of stagnation in the GA industry before the passing
of the General Aviation Revitalization Act (GARA) in 1994.
8
Jet fuel prices track closely with aviation gasoline prices. Aviation gasoline price was not used since the data were
sparse for recent years and projections were not available for forecast years.
9
Real per-capita GDP for the Reno CSA proved to be a better predictor of RNO’s itinerant GA activity than the other
economic indicators tested, namely: aggregate and per capita personal income in the Reno CSA; nonfarm employment
in the Reno CSA; and U.S. nonfarm employment.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-61
The estimated regression coefficient for real per-capita GDP confirms the variable’s expected influence on
RNO’s itinerant GA trends. Holding all other factors constant, growth in regional real GDP, which indicates
overall regional economic growth, stimulates growth in RNO’s itinerant GA operations. Conversely,
downturns in the region’s economy decrease itinerant GA operations at RNO. Population also has the
expected positive effect on local GA traffic, reaffirming the expectation that a larger traffic base for RNO
stimulates traffic. The estimation results for the remaining variables are statistically significant, and they also
confirm their expected effects on both itinerant and local GA traffic.
Table 2-17 presents the resulting forecast of GA operations, along with forecasts of military operations and
based aircraft. Military operations are held constant at their level in 2016, while the number of based aircraft
is expected to increase with the projected growth in GA operations.
Table 2-17: Forecast Noncommercial Aviation Activity
Operations
Levels
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016 2021 2026 2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
GA 26,775 28,034 30,746 34,129 0.9% 1.9% 1.0%
Itinerant GA 23,292 24,266 26,594 29,544 0.8% 1.8% 1.1%
Local GA 3,483 3,769 4,152 4,585 1.6% 2.0% 1.0%
Military 2,220 2,220 2,220 2,220 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Based Aircraft 122 126 135 142 0.6% 1.3% 0.5%
Source: FAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-44 shows the forecast growth in GA operations, broken down between itinerant and local
operations. The forecast shows that itinerant operations will continue to account for around 87 percent of
total GA operations.
Figure 2-44: Forecast GA Operations – Breakdown between Local and Itinerant Operations
Source: FAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
GA Operations
Local
Itinerant
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-62
Overall, forecasts indicate that both itinerant and local operations are expected to grow between 2017 and
2036. The decreases in itinerant operations in 2020, 2021, and the modest decrease in 2026, correspond to
projected declines in the Reno CSA’s real GDP for those years, ending the current economic expansion and
marking the beginning of another economic cycle. These declines are not offset by positive effects from
contemporary changes in real fuel price or population. Local operations decrease slightly in the first forecast
year, continuing the downward trend observed in 2016, before increasing annually thereafter until 2034. The
projected decreases in 2034 and 2036 are due to the projected increases in fuel prices during those years.
While population, which is the other driver of local GA traffic, is expected to continue growing during these
forecast years, the pace of population growth is projected to slow over time.
The next sections put the forecasts of GA activity in the context of forecast national growth, and the
following section compares the Master Plan forecasts with the TAF for RNO.
FAA Aerospace Forecasts
Each year, the FAA publishes high-level forecasts for national aviation activity, including forecasts on GA
operations. Based on economic drivers of GA activity, the FAA provides forecasts of aircraft fleet mix, hours
of operation by category of aircraft, and the number of active pilots. The main findings from the 2016-2036
fiscal year forecasts are summarized below, and Table 2-18 provides the forecast annual average growth
rates for Active GA fleet and Hours Flown:
The long-run outlook for GA is of positive growth.
The active GA fleet is expected to grow at an average rate of 0.2 percent a year.
The largest category of the current fleet, fixed wing piston aircraft, is projected to decline by 0.6 percent
annually.
Turbine powered aircraft are forecast to increase by an average annual rate of 2.1 percent, driving the
projected growth of the GA aircraft population.
The number of GA hours flown is expected to grow by 1.2 percent per year.
The number of active air transport pilots is expected to grow by 13,600, while the number of active GA
pilots is projected to decline to around 5,000 by 2036 (0.1 percent annual decrease).
Active private and commercial pilot populations are also forecast to shrink annually by 0.6 percent.
However, student and sport pilot certificates are expected to increase by an annual average rate of 0.3
percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-63
Table 2
-18: Forecast Growth in U.S. GA Activity (Average Annual Growth Rates)
Active GA Fleet
2015
-
2016
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Fixed Wing, Single-Engine Piston -0.8% -0.7% -0.8% -0.7%
Fixed Wing, Multi-Engine Piston -0.5% -0.4% -0.4% -0.6%
Fixed Wing, Turbo-Prop -1.6% -0.4% 1.2% 2.6%
Fixed Wing, Turbo-Jet 1.3% 2.0% 2.4% 2.8%
Rotorcraft, Piston 2.9% 2.5% 2.0% 1.8%
Rotorcraft, Turbine 2.9% 2.7% 2.3% 2.0%
Other* 0.9% 1.1% 1.1% 1.1%
Total GA Fleet -0.2% -0.02% 0.1% 0.3%
Hours Flown
2015
-
2016
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Fixed Wing, Single-Engine Piston -0.8% -0.7% -0.7% -0.4%
Fixed Wing, Multi-Engine Piston -0.9% -0.6% -0.1% 0.1%
Fixed Wing, Turbo-Prop -0.7% 0.2% 1.3% 2.6%
Fixed Wing, Turbo-Jet 2.6% 3.5% 3.1% 3.0%
Rotorcraft, Piston -1.2% 2.2% 2.7% 2.0%
Rotorcraft, Turbine 3.7% 3.4% 2.6% 2.1%
Other* 2.2% 2.4% 2.3% 2.1%
Total GA Fleet 0.4% 1.0% 1.1% 1.4%
Source: FAA Aerospace Forecast 2016-2036
*Other aircraft include experimental, sport aircraft, airships, balloons, and gliders.
FAA Terminal Area Forecast for RNO
The FAA also provides airport-level aviation activity forecasts through its TAF program for active airports in
the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). These forecasts are prepared to meet the budget
and planning needs of the FAA and provide information for use by state and local authorities, the aviation
industry, and the public. As such, the TAF represents the FAA’s policy benchmark for federal review and
approval of airport master plan forecasts. TAF projections are updated annually using federal fiscal year
activity values.
Figure 2-45 and Table 2-19 compares forecast GA operations with those published for RNO in the FAA TAF.
They differ by slightly less than 5 percent over the first five years and by not much more than 12 and 18
percent over the following five and ten years, respectively. For comparison with the Master Plan’s calendar
year forecasts, the TAF projections are also presented on calendar year basis. The TAF’s estimated levels for
the base year 2016 are lower than observed levels for the same year. This difference of about 1.3 percent
accounts for some of the difference between the TAF and the Master Plan forecast levels over the remaining
forecast period.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-64
Figure 2-45: Master Plan Forecast General Aviation Operations Compared with the TAF
Sources: FAA and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Table 2-19: Forecast General Aviation Operations
General Aviation Operations
Levels
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Total
26,775
28,034
30,746
34,129
0.92%
1.86%
1.05%
Itinerant
23,292
24,266
26,594
29,544
0.82%
1.85%
1.06%
Local
3,483
3,769
4,152
4,585
1.59%
1.96%
1.00%
TAF, CY, as of Jan. 2017
26,432
26,718
27,419
28,886
0.21%
0.52%
0.52%
Ratio of Total to TAF
1.01
1.05
1.12
1.18
Sources: RTAA for actual data, FAA for TAF, and Unison Consulting, Inc. for the forecasts.
28,886
26,775
34,129
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
Total GA Operations
TAF Forecast, CY Model Forecast
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-65
General Aviation Market Assessment
The forecast consultant screened airports within a 60- to 80-mile radius of RNO to compare their GA services
to the services provided by RNO. The evaluation of facilities and services offered at selected airports
provided the opportunity to make some cursory determinations about competition and potential traffic
leakages from RNO. The airports that met preliminary selection criteria are listed below. Table 2-20 provides
some more information on their characteristics, traffic levels, and services offered.
10
Carson Airport (CXP)
Minden-Tahoe Airport (MEV)
Reno/Stead Airport (RTS)
Truckee Tahoe Airport (TRK)
Nevada County Air Park (GOO)
Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL)
Nervino Airport (O02)
Silver Springs Airport (SPZ)
Compared to the proximate airports listed above, RNO is the only towered airport and the only airport that
offers commercial services as a small hub. However, CXP and MEV handle similar levels of GA traffic while
also accommodating air taxi flights. These airports, along with RTS and TRK, offer several ancillary services
that may be attractive to GA operators. As would be expected, the busier GA airports have higher market
shares of based aircraft. Most notably, MEV has the highest share of based aircraft and the highest level of
GA activity. However, nearly a third of MEV’s based aircraft are gliders, suggesting that the airport potentially
serves a niche market. The number and diversity of based aircraft are useful measures of an airport’s aircraft
storage capacity, as well as its proximity to population centers. While airports may provide sufficient hangar
and tie-down services for transient operations, aircraft storage capacity is an important determinant of the
based aircraft population.
10
For a more comprehensive analysis of GA competition between these airports, see Truckee Tahoe Airport District.
Demand Drivers Study, Mead & Hunt. November 2015.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-66
The column showing markets segments served by the airports in Table 2-20 is a strong indicator of an
airport’s role in the broader system of airports it belongs to. While RNO serves as the only airport with
commercial services in this system, both RNO and RTS accommodate Air National Guard operations. RTS also
serves as a reliever airport with CXP, while the remaining airports in the system focus on GA operations. Each
airport in the system makes important facilities and services available to its markets, and the private sector
or airport operator provide key inputs and supplements to these services. These areas of airport services can
be investigated further to examine competition for GA traffic within RNO’s system of airports.
Table 2-20: Potential General Aviation Competitors
Airport Category
1
Based
Aircraft
Market Share of
Based Aircraft
GA Ops
(2015)
Market Segment
Served
Acres
Fixed
Wing
Other
Minden-Tahoe
(MEV)
GA 255 109 33.1% 77,000 GA/CORP 993
Carson City
(CXP)
Reliever 164 22 16.9% 76,000 GA/CORP 632
Reno-Stead
(RTS)
Reliever 92 16 9.8% 61,000 MIL/GA 5,000
Truckee-Tahoe
(TRK)
GA 117 5 11.1% 33,976 MIL/GA/CORP 2,280
RNO Small Hub 113 14 11.5% 27,687 AC/MIL/GA/CORP 1,450
Nevada County
(GOO)
GA 137 0 12.4% 26,750 GA/CORP 117
South Lake Tahoe
(TVL)
GA 24 4 2.5% 21,965 GA/CORP 348
Nervino
(O02)
GA 15 0 1.3% 12,000 GA 99
Silver Springs
(SPZ)
GA 13 1 1.3% 5,000 MIL/GA 400
Sources: Unison Consulting, Inc., Airport IQ 5010, and FAA Terminal Area Forecast (TAF), 2015.
1. Categorization from FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
AC = Air Carrier
MIL = Military
GA = General Aviation
CORP = Corporate Aircraft and Charters
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-67
Summary of Forecasts
Table 2-21 presents a summary of the forecasts of commercial and non-commercial aviation activity at RNO
for 2021, 2026, and 2036, along with the baseline actual data for 2016. Commercial activity consists of
passenger carrier and all-cargo carrier activity. Forecasts for passenger and all-cargo carrier activity are
provided under three scenarios. Noncommercial activity consists of GA and military operations. Forecasts for
GA and military operations are provided under one scenario. Estimates of air taxi operations are added to the
Master Plan forecasts of commercial passenger and all-cargo aircraft operations to compare with the
subtotal of air carrier and commuter/air taxi operations under the FAA TAF.
Table 2-21: Summary of RNO Aviation Activity Forecasts
Measure/Scenario
Levels
Compound Annual Growth Rate
Actual
Forecast
Forecast
2016
2021
2026
2036
2016
-
2021
2021
-
2026
2026
-
2036
Commercial Aviation Activity
-
Passenger Carriers
Enplanements
(Thousand)
Master Plan
Forecast
1,824
2,178
2,417
2,839
3.6%
2.1%
1.6%
Low Growth (25 Percentile)
1,824
1,949
2,063
2,333
1.3%
1.1%
1.2%
High Growth (75 Percentile)
1,824
2,315
2,622
3,168
4.9%
2.5%
1.9%
TAF, CY, as of Jan. 2017
1,810
2,185
2,393
2,893
3.8%
1.8%
1.9%
Ratio of
MP
to TAF
1.01
1.00
1.01
0.98
N/A
N/A
N/A
Ratio of Low to TAF
1.01
0.89
0.86
0.81
N/A
N/A
N/A
Ratio of High to TAF
1.01
1.06
1.10
1.09
N/A
N/A
N/A
Aircraft Landings
(Thousand)
Master Plan
Forecast
19.5
23.0
24.7
27.7
3.3%
1.4%
1.1%
Low Growth (25 Percentile)
19.5
20.6
21.1
22.5
1.1%
0.4%
0.6%
High Growth (75 Percentile)
19.5
24.3
26.6
30.2
4.5%
1.8%
1.3%
Landed Weight
(Million Pounds)
Master Plan
Forecast
2,095
2,504
2,767
3,237
3.6%
2.0%
1.6%
Low Growth (25 Percentile)
2,095
2,241
2,362
2,628
1.4%
1.1%
1.1%
High Growth (75 Percentile)
2,095
2,646
2,986
3,536
4.8%
2.4%
1.7%
All
-
Cargo Carriers
-
Enplaned and Deplaned Air Cargo (Million Pounds)
Master Plan
Forecast
156.4
178.9
200.5
242.3
2.7%
2.3%
1.9%
All
-
cargo
151.8
173.7
194.7
235.2
2.7%
2.3%
1.9%
Belly cargo
4.6
5.2
5.9
7.1
2.7%
2.3%
1.9%
Low Growth
156.4
171.5
185.4
211.0
1.9%
1.6%
1.3%
All
-
cargo
151.8
166.5
180.0
204.9
1.9%
1.6%
1.3%
Belly cargo
4.6
5.0
5.4
6.2
1.9%
1.6%
1.3%
High Growth
156.4
187.1
218.0
281.0
3.7%
3.1%
2.6%
All
-
cargo
151.8
181.7
211.7
272.8
3.7%
3.1%
2.6%
Belly cargo
4.6
5.5
6.4
8.2
3.7%
3.1%
2.6%
All-Cargo Aircraft
Operations
(Thousand)
Master Plan
Forecast
5.0
5.2
5.4
5.8
0.7%
0.7%
0.7%
Low Growth
5.0
5.0
5.0
5.0
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
High Growth
5.0
5.4
5.8
6.7
1.5%
1.5%
1.5%
All-Cargo Aircraft
Landed Weight
(Million Pounds)
Master Plan
Forecast
611.4
579.7
600.4
644.0
-
1.1%
0.7%
0.7%
Low Growth
611.4
559.8
559.8
559.8
-
1.8%
0.0%
0.0%
High Growth
611.4
601.9
647.2
748.4
-
0.3%
1.5%
1.5%
Subtotal Commercial and Air Taxi
Aircraft Operations (Thousand)
52.8
61.4
65.5
73.1
3.0%
1.3%
1.1%
Noncommercial Aviation Activity Aircraft Operations (Thousand)
General
Aviation
26.8
28.0
30.7
34.1
0.9%
1.9%
1.0%
Military
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
0.0%
0.0%
0.0%
Based Aircraft
Number of Based Aircraft
122
126
135
142
0.6%
1.3%
0.5%
Source: Unison
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-68
Comparison of Master Plan Forecast with the FAA TAF
Table 2-22 compares the Master Plan forecast with the FAA TAF. Forecast enplanements are within 2 percent
of the TAF through 2036. Forecast commercial aircraft operations are within 9 percent of the TAF through
2036. Forecast noncommercial aircraft operations are within 10 percent of the TAF through 2023, within 15
percent through 2035, and within 17 percent in 2036. Forecast based aircraft are within 10 percent of the
TAF through 2022, within 15 percent through 2031, and within 18 percent through 2036.
Table
2-22: Comparison of Master Plan Forecast with the FAA TAF for RNO
Actual
Forecast
Enplanements (Thousand)
2016
2021
2026
2036
Master Plan Forecast
1,824
2,178
2,417
2,839
FAA TAF, CY
1,810
2,185
2,393
2,893
Ratio of MP to TAF
1.01
1.00
1.01
0.98
Commercial Aircraft Operations (Air Carrier, Commuter & Air Taxi)
Master Plan Forecast
52,814
61,366
65,543
73,116
FAA TAF, CY
52,814
62,360
67,604
80,055
Ratio of MP to TAF
1.00
0.98
0.97
0.91
Noncommercial Aircraft Operations (GA and Military)
Master Plan Forecast
28,995
30,254
32,966
36,349
FAA TAF, CY
28,594
28,880
29,581
31,048
Ratio of MP to TAF
1.01
1.05
1.11
1.17
Based Aircraft
Master Plan Forecast
122
126
135
142
FAA TAF, CY
120
120
120
120
Ratio of MP to TAF
1.02
1.05
1.12
1.18
Sources: FAA TAF converted to calendar year (CY) basis and Unison Consulting, Inc.
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-69
Figures 2-46, 2-47, and 2-48 compare the Master Plan forecasts of enplanements, commercial aircraft
operations, and noncommercial operations with the TAF.
Figure 2-46: Master Plan Forecast Enplanements Compared with the TAF
Source: Unison Consulting, Inc.
Figure 2-47: Master Plan Forecast Commercial Aircraft Operations Compared with the TAF
Source: Unison Consulting, Inc.
2,893,260
2,839,346
1.5
1.8
2.0
2.3
2.5
2.8
3.0
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
Enplanements
Millions
FAA TAF, CY
MP
80,055
73,116
40
50
60
70
80
90
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
Commercial Aircraft Operations
Thousands
FAA TAF, CY
MP
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-70
Figure 2-48: Master Plan Forecast Noncommercial Aircraft Operations Compared with the TAF
Source: Unison Consulting, Inc.
Sources of Forecast Risk and Uncertainty
The Master Plan forecasts of aviation activity are based on information available at the time of analysis,
measurable factors that drive air travel demand, and assumptions about the availability and characteristics of
airline service at RNO. While forecast development took a comprehensive approach and incorporated the
best available information at the time of the study, broader factors affecting the aviation industry and RNO
can cause RNO’s actual performance to deviate from the forecasts. Some of these factors are discussed
below.
Regional Economic Conditions
Regional economic conditions drive trends in both passenger and cargo traffic at RNO, and the regional
economy has shown vulnerability to recessions. In the past recession, the tourism-dependent regional
economy suffered deeper losses and stayed in recession much longer than the rest of the nation, as shown in
Figure 2-8 and Figure 2-9 earlier in this Chapter. The regional economy is recovering (see the discussion in
Chapter 1 – Inventory of Existing Conditions). The Master Plan forecasts of RNO aviation activity are based
on projections of growth in the regional economy. Actual performance could fall short of these forecasts if
the regional economy were to go into another deep recession or grow at a much slower pace than the
projections.
31,048
36,349
15
20
25
30
35
40
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
2029
2030
2031
2032
2033
2034
2035
2036
Historical Forecast
Non Commercial Operations
Thousands
FAA TAF, CY
MP
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-71
National Economic Conditions
National economic conditions affect airport traffic trends. While the national economy is a major driver of
Nevada’s statewide economy, it also is important in determining air travel demand at RNO. Airport activity is
closely tied to regional and national trends in the economy. Economic expansions increase income, boost
consumer confidence, stimulate business activity, and increase demand. In contrast, economic recessions
reduce income, diminish consumer confidence, dampen business activity, and weaken demand. Generally,
national and regional air traffic decline during economic recessions and grow during economic recoveries and
expansions.
Trends in Oil Prices
Oil prices affect one of the largest components of airline costs. The sharp increase in oil prices in the past
decade resulted in huge financial losses in the U.S. airline industry, pushing many airlines into bankruptcy and
prompting significant changes in airline operations and business practices.
World oil prices have been declining since mid-2014. From a June 2014 peak near $106 per barrel, West
Texas Intermediate (WTI) spot oil prices fell to their lowest level of around $30 per barrel in February 2016,
before climbing to just under $47 in October 2016 (see Figure 2-49). Oil prices have recovered to over $52 as
of January 2017, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration projected oil prices will average $52 per
barrel this year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration does not anticipate oil prices to rise in 2017;
however, upward price pressures are expected to emerge in 2018 as inventories are decreased to more
closely align with demand. Ultimately, there is considerable ambiguity surrounding oil prices for the next few
years. Geopolitical events and production cuts, particularly the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting
Countries’ (OPEC’s) adherence or non-adherence to recent production cut agreements, can push oil prices in
either direction.
Figure 2-49: Monthly Crude Oil Prices: West Texas Intermediate (WTI) – Cushing, Oklahoma
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration and Unison Consulting, Inc.
$27.26
$133.88
$41.71
$105.79
$51.97
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Dollars Per Barrel
Chapter 2 - Aviation Activity Analysis and Forecast
2-72
Performance of RNO’s Largest Carriers
11
The market performance of major airlines operating at RNO can affect future Airport traffic. Southwest and
American Airlines are the two largest carriers at RNO, respectively accounting for 43 percent and 21 percent
of RNO’s enplanements in 2016. United and Alaska Airlines each accounted for 12 percent of enplanements
that year, followed by Delta Airlines (seven percent) and the other carriers operating at RNO (six percent).
Southwest Airlines
Southwest is the second largest scheduled domestic market U.S. carrier, based on its share of U.S. system
revenue passenger miles, which were 18.3 percent for the 12-month period ending in October 2016. In 2015,
Southwest reported its 43
rd
consecutive annual profit of $2.18 billion, nearly doubling its $1.14 billion profit
in 2014 and maintaining its record as the only major U.S. airline that remained profitable through all the
downturns in the airline industry. The carrier earned a net income of $1.72 billion through the third quarter
of 2016, and it served 101 markets with 1,296,000 flights for the 12-month period ending in October 2016.
Southwest’s top markets include Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver, Baltimore and Phoenix.
Southwest acquired AirTran Airways, Inc., in May 2011 and completed the process of integrating AirTran’s
operations by the end of 2014. In 2013, Southwest broke ground on its five-gate, international facility at
Houston's William P. Hobby Airport. This international facility was completed in late 2015 to serve
destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and the northern cities of South America. Since the
Great Recession, Southwest has been re-allocating capacity among airports, moving flights from less
profitable to more profitable markets, and reducing flight frequencies at certain airports to increase load
factors. With the removal of Wright Amendment restrictions on nonstop service at Dallas Love Field in
October 2014, Southwest has been expanding service at Dallas Love Field. Although Southwest’s
enplanement share has been slowly shrinking, flight schedules published in January 2017 indicate that the
airline plans to grow seat capacity at RNO. Through June 2017, Southwest plans to increase scheduled seat
capacity at RNO by around 17 percent over 2016 levels. Southwest accounted for nearly 45 percent of all
scheduled seats at RNO for 2016.
American Airlines
American is the largest scheduled domestic market U.S. passenger carrier, based on its 19.3 percent share of
U.S. system revenue passenger miles in the 12-month period ending in October 2016. The airline’s top
domestic markets are Dallas, Charlotte, Chicago, Phoenix, and Miami. The airline served 106 markets and had
917,000 flights for the 12-month period ending in October 2016.
American has maintained just over 20 percent of RNO’s enplanements since 2013. However, reported
scheduled seats indicate that the carrier expects to reduce capacity at RNO through mid-2017. This capacity
reduction continues the trend observed in the decline of the carrier’s enplanements and scheduled seats
between 2015 and 2016.
11
The discussion is based on information and reports contained in the airlines’ websites, financial data from the
NASDAQ website, and operating data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
