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Richmond International Airport Earns 2026 Global Efficiency Excellence Award

Named Most Efficient Airport in North America Under 5 Million Passengers Richmond International Airport (RIC) has been named the most efficient airport under 5 million passengers in North America, earning the Air Transport Research Society’s (ATRS) 2026 Global Airport Efficiency Award. The Air Transport Research Society’s Airport Efficiency Excellence Awards recognize airports that demonstrate outstanding operational efficiency, productivity, and cost competitiveness. This year’s results came from a year-long analysis of Fiscal Year 2024 data by the ATRS Global Airport Benchmarking Task Force. The 2026 awards were presented on July 3, 2026, during the 2026 ATRS World Conference held in Beijing, China. Perry Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport, accepted RIC’s awards via video from Richmond, Virginia. He emphasized that a major goal for the airport is delivering an exceptional customer experience while maintaining the fiscal discipline necessary to keep air travel accessible and affordable. “The principles on which the Air Transport Research Society measures airport excellence are integral to how RIC serves its passengers, airline partners, employees, and community every day,” Miller said. “This recognition belongs to the talented professionals of Team RIC whose dedication, innovation, and commitment continue to advance our mission of propelling regional prosperity and our vision of becoming the region’s preferred gateway to the world.” According to an awards’ summary from ATRS, “winners are selected using the residual Variable Factor Productivity index, comparing airports within their region and size category and identifying the efficiency that cannot be explained away by factors such as traffic volume, fleet mix or geography. In other words, what remains is a strong signal of operational excellence.” Every month, RIC tracks factors that are critical to assessing and maintaining airport efficiency, including operating expenses, emergency services, maintenance and repairs, and even promotional costs. This conservative, stakeholder-first approach helps minimize costs for airline partners and the passengers they serve. RIC’s commitment is reflected in its five-year strategic plan, Wheels Up 2030, which is guided by five priorities captured in the acronym POWER: Passenger Experience, Operational Excellence, Workforce Development, Enterprise Revenue and Growth, and Regional Impact and Resilience. These strategic pillars provide a clear framework for sustainable growth and ensure that every investment strengthens the airport’s future competitiveness. 2026 Global Airport Efficiency Award Winners – North America Richmond International Airport (RIC) – Under 5 million passengersIndianapolis International Airport (IND) – 5–20 million passengersFort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) – 20–40 million passengersCharlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – 40+ million passengers About Richmond International Airport (RIC) Richmond International Airport’s vision is to be the region’s preferred gateway to the world by focusing on world-class customer experience and operational excellence that drives passenger choice. Activities at RIC contribute nearly 13,500 jobs and $2.97 billion to central Virginia’s economy, according to a new report from the VCU School of Business Executive MBA program. To learn more, please visit RIC on the web, X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Richmond International Airport Seeks to Reflect Region

Transformation efforts shared at monthly airport commission meeting emphasize community, culture, and customer experience Long-term growth and development at Richmond International Airport (RIC) was the focus of discussion at this month’s meeting of the Capital Region Airport Commission (CRAC). As RIC enters a historic period of transformation, headlined by a consolidated security screening checkpoint project which merges two existing checkpoints into one, the airport is taking the opportunity to cultivate a sense of place that reflects the Richmond region. A branding charette, facilitated by design firm 3North and attended by airport stakeholders, business representatives and community members, was held in late April to brainstorm ways to make travelers first impression a memorable one. “This was one of the best events of this kind I have attended, and the results speak for themselves,” said Perry Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport. “I’m excited to move forward and incorporate some of these elements to create a real sense of place here.” Representatives from 3North shared that charette participants emphasized four areas — natural elements, atmosphere, arts and experiences, and history and culture. The results also revealed three themes that center on using the James River as guiding element for airport visitors, leveraging the distinct contrasts within the region to highlight culture, and branding RIC as a “hyper-local landing spot” that celebrates the Richmond region. While the terminal has been bustling with summer vacation travelers, RIC did experience a slight decrease in traffic in May with 445,979 passengers welcomed at the airport, which is 1.8% less than the same month last year. The decrease was attributed to the recent spike in the cost of jet fuel and the cessation of service of Spirit Airlines in the first weekend of May. Passenger traffic data showed a 2.6% increase for FYTD26. Total cargo and aircraft operations both increased compared to May 2025, rising 10.3% and 1.8%, respectively. For more info, visit monthly statistics on the web. A monthly finance report for May showed airport revenues outperformed the FY26 budget, according to preliminary, unaudited data. Monthly operating revenues totaled $8.1 million, exceeding projections by $1.5 million or 25.0%. Fiscal-year-to-date 2026 (FYTD26) revenues rose by $7.3 million or 11.8% to $73.8 million. Monthly operating expenses were greater than budget by approximately $400,000 or 11.7%, largely driven by $212,000 in expenses associated with the Commission’s historical billing and cleanup efforts (which were more than offset by approximately $1.4 million in reclaimed rental and concession income from the same review). FYTD26 expenses totaled $37.8 million, under budget by $1.7 million or 4.3%. In other business matters, the Commission reviewed and approved resolutions that support the airport’s strategic priorities, including authorizing the airport CEO to: Execute a construction agreement for nearly $1.5 million for the Ramp and BHS Surveillance System Project with M.C. Dean Building Intelligence. The project consists of new cameras and infrastructure to support monitoring aircraft ramp operations at concourses A and B and within the baggage handling system.Execute a contract for the replacement of an Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle in the amount of $1.35 million, funded 80% by the Virginia Department of Aviation (DOAV) and 20% by the airport.Apply to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board for a usage-driven FTZ designation on behalf of LEGO Systems, Inc., and execute the necessary agreements to establish and operate the FTZ site at LEGO’s Regional Distribution Center in Prince George County. Annual revenue of $12,000 is expected from operating fees.Execute a Federal Aviation Administration grant in the amount of $500,000 for the East Side General Aviation Apron 5 Connectors design project. The grant will fund planning, design, and bidding services for two taxiway connectors from Taxiway M to a new taxi lane for the future Apron 5. About Richmond International Airport (RIC) Richmond International Airport’s vision is to be the region’s preferred gateway to the world by focusing on world-class customer experience and operational excellence that drives passenger choice. Activities at RIC contribute nearly 13,500 jobs and $2.97 billion to central Virginia’s economy, according to a new report from the VCU School of Business Executive MBA program. To learn more, please visit RIC on the web, X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Comprehensive Upgrades: Richmond International Airport Makes Sweeping Investments in Tech.

RIC is boldly modernizing its airport in four key areas simultaneously to improve the customer experience. Following a few years of pandemic-related turbulence, the aviation industry is once again taking off. In fact, in its latest 20-year annual forecast, Airports Council International (ACI) World predicted total passenger traffic worldwide will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5%, while respected strategic advisor firm Oliver Wyman revealed that the global aviation fleet is anticipated to grow by 33% by 2033. With these remarkable growth statistics in mind, it’s obvious that airports need to remain vigilant when it comes to investing in technology. It’s a diligence that allows us to operate more efficiently, improve the passenger experience, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. The time to act is now. This is why Richmond International Airport (RIC) has proactively begun instituting its own upgrades in four crucial areas—and we’re bravely making these extensive investments at the same time. Investment One: Cleaner Air A Great Set of GAMS The COVID-19 pandemic heightened awareness of the importance of air quality in preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Travelers are now more conscious of health and hygiene when choosing their travel options. For airports, clean air technology is a crucial component of a comprehensive crisis preparedness plan and can help make RIC the airport of choice for airlines and businesses alike. It’s why RIC has made GAMS environmental monitoring upgrades at Checkpoints A and B with AtmosAir bi-polar ionization. This air purification pairing has been proven to clean air beyond MERV 13 filters, reducing human coronavirus 229E, microorganisms, bacteria, and mold by 99%+. By partnering with AtmosAir and GAMS, we can achieve cleaner air for our travelers and tenants in concentrated areas when social distancing is not possible. RIC will continue to evaluate the system to ensure it’s the best fit going forward. As an airport dedicated to the health and safety of our passengers, team members, and tenants, we will remain abreast of new technologies to see if another comes along to revolutionize processes. Investment Two: Energy Audits What’s the Use? Energy audits can reap big benefits for an airport and its customers. They not only identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, leading to reduced energy consumption and operational costs, but also help lower an airport’s carbon footprint and demonstrate a commitment to environmental stewardship. At RIC, our energy audit was conducted by Gresham Smith, an award-winning architecture and engineering firm that specializes in essential infrastructure solutions and takes a technology-driven approach to its services. They discovered that RIC’s energy use intensity (EUI) was significantly better when compared to other small hub airports in the United States. Further, based on RIC’s baseline, Gresham Smith made recommendations on possible modifications for future airport upfits to ensure we are at our most energy efficient. This baseline also provided a roadmap for where we want to go in the future. We know that our energy audit can help us be a more competitive choice for operators, from airlines to concessions to terminal tenants. What’s more, it helps us keep overall overhead costs lower. We will continue to use these audit recommendations for future planning and determine how to best incorporate our learnings into upcoming construction and expansions. Investment Three: Electric Vehicle Chargers Get Recharged The aviation industry is under increasing scrutiny to address its environmental impact. While direct emissions from aircraft are a significant concern, airports can contribute to emission reduction by encouraging the use of electric vehicles on the ground, thereby helping to lower the overall carbon footprint of airport operations. For these reasons and more, RIC invested in two Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers by ChargePoint, the largest network of EV charging stations in North America and Europe. All together, the Valet EV units are capable of charging four vehicles at a time. With a maximum charge rate of 7.2 kw/hr, they currently serve as a convenience to our valet customers and offer numerous benefits. Technology such as this underscores our commitment to sustainability. Plus, we remove one less hassle from the travel experience by giving our customers the peace of mind knowing their vehicle will be fully charged at touchdown. Expanding services like these allows us to be more competitive with other airports in the mid-Atlantic region while further propelling us to becoming our area’s airport of choice. Because of this, we are currently evaluating the addition of more charging stations in the near future. Investment Four: Robotics The Future Looks ROSIE When it comes to simple ways to save time and increase efficiency, there is little that comes close to robotic floor scrubbers. They operate autonomously, covering large floor areas efficiently in less time than traditional methods. Moreover, pre-programmed routes and cleaning patterns ensure a consistent level of cleanliness throughout the terminal. It’s why RIC invested in Nilfisk Liberty SC50’s robotic floor scrubber, loveably called ROSIE. It was designed specifically for RIC, and with its state-of-the-art technology, we can route a map that delivers between 98% and 99.5% coverage. Our team members do the detail work, while ROSIE performs essential floor care. It runs for six straight hours, covering 55,000 square feet. It offers three cleaning modes, works at night, and has the capability to notify a manager by email of its activities, whether it is currently running, has stopped, or has completed a task. RIC is set to request an additional floor scrubber in the next fiscal year. The 2022 Air Transport IT Insights survey produced in concert by ACI World and SITA, reports that 93% of airports anticipated maintaining their investment in IT or elevating it for 2023. No one wants to be caught in the other 7%. The travel industry is dynamic, and passenger expectations evolve. Investing in a new technology allows airports to adapt to changing travel trends, preferences, and behaviors. Investing in four gives an airport the competitive edge. It’s this relentless drive that helps RIC continue to provide exceptional travel experiences, safeguard its relevance in the aviation landscape, and maintain its ascent as the airport of choice for the mid-Atlantic region.