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FAA Funding Reductions Could Ground Some U.S. Airport Projects - PDF
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1 April 5, 2012 FAA Funding Reductions Could Ground Some U.S. Airport Projects Primary Credit Analyst: Joseph J Pezzimenti, New York (1) ; Secondary Contacts: Geoffrey Buswick, Boston (1) ; Peter V Murphy, New York (1) ; Table Of Contents AIP Appropriations Remain A Question Airport Ratings Suffered During The Recession Lower Demand Could Have A Silver Lining Airports That Make Do With Less Could Risk Their Credit Ratings 1
2 FAA Funding Reductions Could Ground Some U.S. Airport Projects The need for funding for safe, reliable, and up-to-date transportation infrastructure keeps growing in step with the demands of a rising population, and airports are no exception. But declining (and increasingly uncertain) federal support, a weak economy, and the financial stress that might result from some financing options could make it tougher for U.S. airports to pay for critical s--and could lead, in some cases, to airport ratings being lowered by one notch or so. In February, President Obama signed into law the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which authorized $3.35 billion in annual Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for the next four federal fiscal years (2012 to 2015). Airport operators can use AIP funds on most airfield capital improvements or repairs and, in some specific situations, to build terminals, hangars, and other non-aviation s. But the new authorization is $165 million per year less than the previous authorization. And with Washington seeking to cut the national debt, trim the federal budget, and reduce appropriations, the actual funding levels may be even lower than those authorized currently. Overview Airport operators will likely receive less federal support for the next four years. As such, they may increasingly need to approach the capital markets to get the funding they need. Although our ratings on airports are generally strong, we think some airports may be vulnerable to a one-notch downgrade. AIP Appropriations Remain A Question The FAA's Airport Improvement Program aims to help airports fund or start s to modernize their facilities or expand capacity. Before the latest four-year reauthorization was approved, the FAA had received funding through 23 short-term extensions. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the reauthorization, some airport operators had a difficult time planning financing for capital needs beyond one or two years into the future. Even with a four-year authorization in place, though, there is no guarantee that the government would not make further cuts to AIP funding, what with the significant pressure to reduce spending overall. Actual appropriations under the AIP have reached their maximum authorized levels in recent years (see chart 1). Standard & Poors RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal April 5,
3 Chart 1 Meanwhile, the cap on passenger charges (PFCs) was not adjusted in the new authorization. The charge, which is added to each passenger airline ticket, remains capped at $4.50 per ticket, even though many airport operators had requested an increase. PFC collections provide airport operators with a local funding source for FAA-approved s that enhance airport safety, security, or capacity; reduce noise; or increase air carrier competition. Unlike AIP funding, airports can use PFC collections to pay debt service on any bonds they issue to fund PFC-eligible s. Not all airports are eligible to collect PFCs, although 385 U.S. airports currently do, including 99 of the nation's 100 largest airports. Standard & Poor's Ratings Services doubts the cap will be raised before the end of the current four-year authorization period. Raising the PFC cap, which has not been done since 2000, would help airport operators undertake improvements they would otherwise have to put off until other funding sources could be identified. The latest bill does, however, authorize the U.S. Comptroller General to study ways to collect PFCs without including them in ticket prices. If the study yields a workable solution, the increased revenue from raising the cap could help provide airports with the additional capital they need without raising ticket surcharges, which the airline industry strongly opposes. 3
4 Table 1 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure PFC And Other Ratings As of April 2, 2012 Obligor Issuer State Aero JFK LLC New York City Industrial Development Agency APCOA Bradley Parking Co. LLC (Bradley International Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport Long-term rating Outlook Note New York BBB- Negative Special Connecticut Connecticut BB Stable Parking Maryland Transportation Authority Maryland A Stable PFC Maryland Transportation Authority Maryland A Stable Parking Boston Logan International Airport Massachusetts Port Authority Massachusetts A Stable PFC Chicago O'Hare International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois A- Positive PFC Consolidated rental car (Bush Intercontinental Consolidated rental car (Boston Logan International Consolidated rental car (Charlotte Douglas International Consolidated rental car (Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Hotel Project (Dallas-Fort Worth International John F. Kennedy International Air Term LLC Houston Department of Aviation Texas A- Stable Special Massachusetts Port Authority Massachusetts A Stable Special Charlotte North Carolina A Stable Special Atlanta Georgia A- Stable Special Broward County Department of Aviation Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Public Facilities Improvement Corp. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Florida A Stable PFC Texas A- Stable Special New York BBB- Stable Special Kansas City International Airport Kansas City Aviation Department Missouri A Stable PFC Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport Clark County Department of Aviation Nevada A Negative Special LAX Fuel Corp. Special Facility (Los Angeles International Los Angeles Regional Airport Improvement Corp. California A- Stable Special Nashville International Airport Nashville Tennessee A- Stable Special New Orleans Aviation Board New Orleans Aviation Board Louisiana A- Stable Special New Orleans International Airport New Orleans Aviation Board Louisiana A- Stable PFC Philadelphia Parking Authority Philadelphia Parking Authority Pennsylvania A- Stable Parking Portland International Airport Port of Portland Oregon A Stable PFC Rental Car Facility (Sky Harbor International Phoenix Aviation Department Arizona A- Stable Special Standard & Poors RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal April 5,
5 Table 1 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure PFC And Other Ratings (cont.) Rental Car Special Facility (Dallas-Fort Worth International Rental Car Special Facility (Denver International Rental Car Special Facility (T.F. Green International Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Public Facilities Improvement Corp. Texas A- Stable Special Denver Department of Aviation Colorado A- Stable Special Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. Rhode Island BBB+ Stable Special SEATAC Fuel Facilities LLC Port of Seattle Washington A- Stable Special Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Port of Seattle Washington A+ Stable PFC SFO Fuel Co. LLC Special Facility (San Francisco International Terminal One Group Association L.P. (JFK International PFC--Passenger charge. San Francisco Airport Commission California BBB+ Stable Special New York City Industrial Development Agency (Port Authority of New York and New Jersey) New York BBB Stable Special The federal government views transportation spending as discretionary. And in light of the reduction in AIP funding, no increase to the PFC cap, and the strained finances of local municipalities, we believe airports could have fewer options to fund their capital needs. The obvious choices to fund urgent capital s are to approach the debt markets or draw on available liquidity. Either option could become a rating factor, especially if new debt or reduced liquidity results in a financial risk profile that is no longer consistent with the existing credit rating. Airport Ratings Suffered During The Recession The economy is a key factor we consider when evaluating an airport's credit quality. The price of jet fuel, which accounts for roughly 30% to 40% of an airline's operating costs, affects demand for air travel because airlines pass higher fuel costs along to customers through higher fares. Demand for air travel has not returned to pre-2008 levels, but it has been rebounding during the past two years (see chart 2). 5
6 Chart 2 The effects of the recent recession on our ratings are easy to see: From 2009 through 2011, we lowered ratings on 17 general airport revenue bonds (GARBs) and raised ratings on only nine. Conversely, in 2006 through 2008, we raised ratings on 27 GARBs, and lowered ratings on only one (see chart 3). Standard & Poors RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal April 5,
7 Chart 3 Currently, among the 94 GARBs we rate, 85% have a stable outlook, 7% have a negative outlook, and 7% have a positive outlook. All have investment-grade ratings. Approximately 17% are in the 'AA' category, 67% are in the 'A' category, and the remaining 15% are in the 'BBB' category (see chart 4). Despite our stable outlooks on most of these ratings, we acknowledge the credit risks of reduced federal funding, high fuel costs, a weak economy, and airline consolidation. 7
8 Chart 4 Table 2 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure Ratings As of April 2, 2012 Obligor Issuer State Long-term rating Outlook Albany International Airport Albany County Airport Authority New York BBB+ Stable Albuquerque International Sunport Albuquerque Department of Aviation New Mexico A+ Stable Albuquerque International Sunport Albuquerque International Sunport New Mexico A (second lien) Stable Austin Bergstrom International Airport Austin Texas A Stable Boston Logan International Airport Massachusetts Port Authority Massachusetts AA- Stable Bradley International Airport Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Connecticut Department of Transportation (Bureau of Aviation and Ports) Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Connecticut A- Stable California A+ Stable Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport Houston Department of Aviation Texas AA- Stable Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport Houston Department of Aviation Texas A (second lien) Stable Charleston County Airport Charleston County Airport District South Carolina A- Positive Charlotte/Douglas International Airport Charlotte Aviation Department North Carolina A+ Stable Chicago Midway International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois A Stable Chicago Midway International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois A- (second lien) Stable Chicago O'Hare International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois AA Stable Chicago O'Hare International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois AA- (second lien) Stable Chicago O'Hare International Airport Chicago Department of Aviation Illinois A- (third lien) Positive Standard & Poors RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal April 5,
9 Table 2 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure Ratings (cont.) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Kenton County Airport Board Ohio A- Negative Cleveland Hopkins International Airport Cleveland Department of Port Control Ohio A- Stable Colorado Springs Airport Colorado Springs Colorado A- Stable Corpus Christi International Airport Corpus Christi Texas BBB- Stable Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Board Texas A+ Stable Dayton International Airport Dayton Ohio A- Stable Denver International Airport Denver Department of Aviation Colorado A+ Stable Des Moines International Airport Des Moines International Airport Iowa A- Stable Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport Wayne County Airport Authority Michigan A Stable Detroit Metro Wayne County Airport Wayne County Airport Authority Michigan A- (second lien) Stable El Paso International Airport El Paso Texas A+ Stable Ford International Airport Kent County Department of Aeronautics Michigan BBB+ Stable Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Broward County Department of Aviation Florida A+ Stable Fresno Yosemite International Airport Fresno California BBB Stable Guam International Airport Guam Airport Authority Guam BBB Stable Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta Department of Aviation Georgia A+ Stable Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta Department of Aviation Georgia A (second lien) Stable Honolulu International Airport Hawaii Department of Transportation (Hawaii Airport System) Hawaii A Stable Indianapolis International Airport Indianapolis Airport Authority Indiana A Stable Jacksonville Aviation Authority Jacksonville Aviation Authority Florida A Stable John Wayne Airport Orange County California AA- Stable Kansas City International Airport Kansas City International Airport Missouri A+ Negative Kansas City International Airport Kansas City International Airport Missouri A (second lien) Negative Lambert-St. Louis International Airport St. Louis Missouri A- Negative Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport Clark County Department of Aviation Nevada AA- Negative Las Vegas-McCarran International Airport Clark County Department of Aviation Nevada A+ (second lien) Negative Little Rock National Airport Little Rock Arkansas A- Positive Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles Department of Aviation California AA Stable Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles Department of Aviation California AA- (second lien) Stable Louisville International Airport Louisville Regional Airport Authority Kentucky A+ Stable Manchester Boston Regional Airport Manchester New Hampshire BBB+ Stable Memphis International Airport Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Tennessee A- Stable Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Sevier County Public Buidling Authority Tennessee A- Stable Miami International Airport Dade County Aviation Department Florida A- Stable Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Airports Commission Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro Airports Commission Minnesota AA- Stable Minnesota A (second lien) Stable Mobile Airport Authority Mobile Airport Authority Alabama BBB Stable Myrtle Beach International Airport Horry County South Carolina A- Stable Nashville International Airport Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority Tennessee A Stable New Orleans International Airport New Orleans Aviation Board Louisiana A- Stable Okaloosa County Airport System Okaloosa County Florida BBB+ Stable 9
10 Table 2 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure Ratings (cont.) Omaha Airport Authority Omaha Eppley Airfield Nebraska AA- Stable Ontario International Airport Los Angeles Department of Aviation California A- Stable Orlando International Airport Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Florida A+ Stable Orlando International Airport Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Florida BBB+ (second lien) Stable Palm Beach International Airport Palm Beach County Department of Aviation Florida A Stable Pensacola Regional Airport Pensacola Florida BBB Stable Philadelphia International Airport Philadelphia Department of Aviation Pennsylvania A+ Stable Piedmont Triad International Airport Piedmont Triad Airport Authority North Carolina A- Stable Pittsburgh International Airport Allegheny County Airport Authority Pennsylvania BBB+ Positive Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (JFK International, La Guardia Airport, and Newark International) Port Authority of New York and New Jersey New York AA- Stable Port Columbus International Airport Columbus Regional Airport Authority Ohio A+ Stable Port of Oakland (Metropolitan Oakland International Port of Oakland (Metropolitan Oakland International Port of Seattle (Seattle-Tacoma International Port of Seattle (Seattle-Tacoma International Port of Seattle (Seattle-Tacoma International Port of Oakland California A Positive Port of Oakland California A- (second lien) Positive Port of Seattle Washington AA- Stable Port of Seattle Washington A+ (second lien) Stable Port of Seattle Washington A (third lien) Stable Portland International Airport Port of Portland Oregon AA- Stable Portland International Jetport Portland Maine BBB+ Positive Sacramento International Airport Sacramento County Airport System California A Stable Sacramento International Airport Sacramento County Airport System California A- (second lien) Stable San Antonio International Airport San Antonio Airport System Texas A+ Stable San Antonio International Airport San Antonio Airport System Texas A- (second lien) Stable San Diego International Airport San Diego International Airport California Maritime Infrastructure Authority California Maritime Infrastructure Authority California A+ Stable California A (second lien) Stable San Francisco International Airport San Francisco Airports Commission California A+ Stable San Jose International Airport San Jose Department of Aviation California A- Stable Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Aviation Department Arizona AA- Stable Sky Harbor International Airport Phoenix Aviation Department Arizona A+ (second lien) Stable Southwest Florida International Airport Lee County Port Authority Florida A- Stable Spokane Airport Authority Spokane County Washington A+ Stable T.F. Green International Airport Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. Rhode Island BBB+ Negative Tampa International Airport Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Florida A+ Stable Tulsa International Airport Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust Oklahoma BBB+ Stable Tulsa International Airport Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust Oklahoma BBB (second lien) Stable Washington Dulles International Airport and Reagan National Airport Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Washington, D.C. Will Rogers World Airport Oklahoma City Airport Trust Oklahoma AA Stable AA- Stable Standard & Poors RatingsDirect on the Global Credit Portal April 5,
11 Table 2 U.S. Airports And Aviation Infrastructure Ratings (cont.) Will Rogers World Airport Oklahoma City Airport Trust Oklahoma A+ (second lien) Stable Lower Demand Could Have A Silver Lining Standard & Poor's latest economic forecast places the risk of another recession at 20%, down from 25% in our previous forecast. The unemployment rate is dropping after three straight months of more than 200,000 jobs gained, and reports of business sentiment and initial jobless claims are encouraging. A sustained increase in oil prices, however, could reverse the increase in household incomes and purchasing power. Although we think the boost from the earned income tax credit has given some people more purchasing power, high oil prices will still weigh on overall economic growth and affect the demand for air travel. Yet, lower demand could work to some airport operators' advantage. A decline in flights and passengers could allow airports to scale back or defer certain improvements. For instance, an airport might postpone widening passenger concourses or adding runways if it is serving fewer passengers than it anticipated. But lower demand could also mean lower airport revenues. The rating effect would depend on the airport's overall financial profile. We would consider lowering our ratings on airports that are unable or unwilling to enhance their revenues to preserve margins and liquidity during an economic slowdown or a period of declining demand for air travel. Airports That Make Do With Less Could Risk Their Credit Ratings Airport credit quality has remained quite resilient despite the tumult of the past decade: bankruptcies, consolidation, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic, and a global recession, not to mention hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, and the far-reaching effects of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Yet, U.S. airport credit quality has, in most cases, remained stable or changed only slightly, and most downgrades were within a notch of the previous rating. Airports that are resistant to adjusting rates and charges might be at more risk of downgrades. We expect larger airports to fare better because of the size of their markets, their importance to the national aviation system, and their strategic importance to some of the country's largest airlines. We also believe smaller airports with strong financial margins and liquidity and low debt will be better-positioned to withstand lower passenger levels. But no matter their size, all airports may struggle to meet their funding needs as they try to make do with less government funding than they had hoped for. Writer: Robert McNatt 11
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