The Honorable Gavin Newsom
Governor
State of California
1303 10th Street, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

On behalf of Airlines for America (A4A), the principal trade and service organization of the U.S. airline industry, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), the principal trade association representing the local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate airports in the United States and Canada, and the Airport Restaurant and Retail Association (ARRA), the voice of restaurateurs and retailers who operate concessions at airports across the U.S., including small minority and women-owned companies, we are writing in hopes of resolving what appears to be an unintended consequence of some recent state orders regarding restrictions on indoor dining in bars, clubs, lounges and restaurants in counties with high COVID19 infection rates. Specifically, these unintended consequences surround the requirement that food can be served only via take-away service, which is presenting unique challenges to the operations at commercial service airports in California.

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Schumer and House Minority Leader McCarthy:

As you consider the next phase of coronavirus relief, we urge you to provide much needed assistance to airports and the diverse group of aviation concessionaires that provide valuable services at airport facilities across the country. Both airports and airport concessionaires have been hit hard by the pandemic and the significant loss of revenue throughout the aviation system as passenger levels have fallen by 70 to 75 percent from last year’s levels. The impacts on airports and the businesses that serve them has been severe and the prospects for a quick recovery are dim. Air passengers, upon whom airports and concessionaires depend, are not projected to return to pre-pandemic levels for several years at best.

The airport concessionaires that make up the memberships of our associations – companies large and small, many of which are Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (ACDBEs) -- have been hit hard by the dramatic reduction in air travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past six months. Year-over-year, many of our member companies have seen revenues drop between 50 and 95%. These businesses are dependent on air travelers and many may not survive, or will not recover, until air passenger volumes return to pre-pandemic levels. Air passengers, on which concessionaires and airports depend, are not projected to return to pre-pandemic levels for at least 18-36 months, and possibly as long as five years.