Finance
Westfield-Barnes Airport revenues rising, manager tells Finance Committee
WESTFIELD — Revenues at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport are up 40% over the past year, which had City Council Finance Committee members this week suggesting that the Airport Department could be on the path to self-sufficiency.
Airport Manager Christopher Willenborg reported at the June 12 meeting of the Finance Committee that the increase in receipts has to do with the addition of a new hangar, new leases and rental adjustments. He said the airport also hired an outside company to collect landing fees, and exceeded its anticipated income for the year.
He said at the end of 2023, takeoffs and landings were up 3% to total 54,000, and this year is trending to a 4% increase, even with very low January numbers. He said Barnes Airport is the preferred airport for University of Massachusetts Amherst athletics, and processed 3,800 student athletes, another big revenue source.