Branson, Missouri, to open America's First Private Commercial Airport

Put on your spangles and break out the moonshine! Branson's gettin' an airport!

But not just a regular airport, America's first privately-funded, privately-owned, for-profit commercial airport. Private airports are old hat in Europe and Latin America, and growing in popularity in Asia, but until now every commercial airport in the US has been built with or subsidized by taxpayer money.

The airport will be modest, only offering four parking spots for planes, a single runway, no jet bridges (passengers will deplane directly to the tarmac via staircases), and an incredibly modest 58,000 square foot terminal. The best part: taxpayers didn't pay a cent for it. The airport was built using money from a group of private investors that include Citigroup and Aviation Facilities Co.

Although the airport's investors predict Branson will be a success, industry experts are skeptical the move will catch on, if it works at all. According to industry consultant Mike Boyd:

Branson Airport is not likely to be the vanguard of airport privatization. It's too hard disentangling existing airports from their government financial and legal tethers, and financial prospects at most airports probably aren't good enough to justify the risk.

In Branson's case, the local population is too small, and the region's attractions aren't sufficient to consistently generate sufficient traffic for profitable air service.

According to Steve Peet, Branson Airport CEO and one of the original investors, the key to success will be attracting low-cost air carriers whose clientele will be attracted to Branson's family-friendly environment and live music. Peet said that the airport's traffic will speak for itself:

If we're not handling 225,000 to 250,000 passengers a year three years down the road, then we'll be in a tough situation. But I don't think that's going to be the case.