Salina Airport Authority

What Salina Airport Authority does

The Salina Airport Authority is a Kansas municipal entity that operates Salina Regional Airport (SLN) and the adjacent 2,600-acre Salina Airport Industrial Center, both converted from the former Schilling Air Force Base between 1965 and the present. The Authority provides commercial passenger air service via the M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal (SkyWest Airlines operating United Express regional jet flights to Denver, Chicago, and Houston), general aviation facilities on a 12,300-foot runway, and 900,000+ square feet of leasable industrial, warehouse, hangar, and office space to more than 100 tenants. Core products include the regional airport, the Aviation Innovation and Maintenance (AIM) Center, the Salina Airport Industrial Center, and supporting ground transportation and rental car services.

The Authority's infrastructure backbone includes a 12,300-foot primary runway, 550,000+ square feet of hangar space, the AIM Center for MRO and workforce development, and approximately 900,000 square feet of managed manufacturing, warehouse, hangar, and office facilities. Technical differentiators are physical rather than digital: former Strategic Air Command base infrastructure (12 silo ICBM complex footprint, B-52/KC-135 era runways and taxiways), FAA Part 139 compliance, and integration with Kansas State University Salina's aviation maintenance program. The 2025 relaunch of SalinaAirport.com on a modern platform modernized the digital front door, but no proprietary technology platform, AI systems, or data products are disclosed.

The Authority generates revenue through airport operations (landing fees, terminal services, hangar and ground leases), industrial center tenant leases, and government grants (KDOT Innovative Technology Program, KDHE coordination, FAA programs). Customer segments are diversified across commercial aviation (SkyWest, United, 17 commercial aviation businesses), industrial/logistics tenants (Amazon WKS3, Schwan's, Geoprobe, Tricrest), and industrial center sub-segments (manufacturing, warehouse, office, aviation services). The Authority carries a Moody's Aa3 credit rating (October 2025), drives $1.6 billion in regional economic impact, and employs a small executive staff (6 named leaders) supporting more than 7,000 tenant-employees across the industrial center.

Name

Salina Airport Authority

Legal name

Salina Airport Authority

Website

https://salinaairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Salina Airport Authority is a Kansas municipal entity operating Salina Regional Airport and a 2,600-acre industrial center converted from a former air force base, serving commercial passengers via SkyWest/United Express, 100+ industrial and aviation tenants, and K-State Salina workforce programs, driving $1.6 billion in regional economic impact.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations and Industrial Real Estate

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

Keywords

• Regional airport services
• Aviation infrastructure
• Airport industrial real estate
• Aviation maintenance facilities
• Aircraft hangar leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Salina

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Airport Services and Facilities: Revenue generated from airport operations including terminal services, hangar rentals, landing fees, and ground leases to aviation businesses and tenants at the Salina Regional Airport and Industrial Center
2. Industrial Center Tenants: Revenue from over 100 businesses and organizations operating at the Salina Airport Industrial Center, including manufacturing, warehouse, office, and aviation service tenants
3. Government Grants and Programs: Federal and state funding from programs such as Kansas Department of Transportation's Innovative Technology Program for infrastructure improvements and technology implementation

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salina Airport Authority operates Salina Regional Airport (SLN) providing commercial passenger air service through United Express to Denver, Chicago, and Houston, and manages a 2,600-acre Salina Airport Industrial Center with 550,000+ square feet of hangar space and over 900,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse, and office space housing more than 100 businesses and 7,000+ employees. The authority also runs the Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center supporting aircraft maintenance operations and aviation workforce development.

Product overview

Salina Airport Authority operates Salina Regional Airport (SLN) and the Salina Airport Industrial Center, offering a comprehensive portfolio of aviation and airport services. The core offerings include commercial passenger service through the M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal with connections to major hubs, the Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center for aircraft maintenance, and the Airport Industrial Center providing industrial real estate and hangar space. Supporting services include ground transportation coordination and rental car services. The authority manages over 900,000 square feet of existing manufacturing, warehouse, hangar, and office space at the Airport Industrial Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Salina Regional Airport (SLN)
• M.J. Kennedy Air Terminal
• Aviation Innovation & Maintenance (AIM) Center Aviation maintenance and innovation facility at Salina Regional Airport supporting aircraft maintenance operations, aviation workforce development, and applied aviation research in partnership with K-State Salina.
• Salina Airport Industrial Center

Quantifiable outcome

• $1.6 billion annual economic impact
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SkyWest AirlinescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026SkyWest Airlines, the world's largest regional air carrier, established an aircraft maintenance facility at Salina Regional Airport. This is the first overnight maintenance facility in Kansas, supporting maintenance on SkyWest's fleet of 500+ regional jets operating United Express flights. SkyWest has served Salina since 2018 and recently expanded service to include Houston as a third United destination.
• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Amazon opened a new delivery station at 1850 W. Water Well Road at Salina Regional Airport. The 90,000-square-foot facility (designated WKS3) is Amazon's first operational site in central Kansas, serving a 60-mile radius. The station exceeded initial employment projections with 495 total jobs created.
• Kansas State University SalinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerK-State Salina aviation program supports workforce training and applied aviation research at the Salina Airport Industrial Center. The university has partnered with the airport and city for public infrastructure improvements and funding oversight of environmental remediation at the former Schilling Air Force Base.
• Kansas Department of TransportationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDOT awarded $3.9 million in Innovative Technology Program funding for FY 2027 to support transportation technology implementation at Salina airport and related projects to improve safety, access, and mobility.
• Kansas Department of Health and EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKDHE is coordinating with Salina Public Entities on environmental remediation efforts at the former Schilling Air Force Base, including the $70 million cleanup project and Plume B Soil Source Area remediation.
• United AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnited Airlines provides commercial air service through SkyWest Airlines operating 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ 200 aircraft to three hub destinations: Denver, Chicago O'Hare, and Houston George Bush Intercontinental.
• Tricrest Aviation InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTricrest Aviation Insurance Agency LLC opened at the Salina Airport Industrial Center in 2024, providing data-driven aviation insurance solutions backed by technical expertise in aircraft systems and predictive maintenance.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport: Operated by the Wichita Airport Authority, ICT is the next-largest commercial service airport in Kansas. Comparable regional airport authority model serving commercial passenger service, general aviation, and surrounding industrial real estate in the same state.
• Manhattan Regional Airport: Kansas regional airport serving the Manhattan/Flint Hills area with commercial passenger service and general aviation. Closely comparable size, governance structure, and catchment profile to Salina Regional Airport (SLN).
• Springfield-Branson National Airport: Regional airport authority serving a similar mid-sized Midwestern metro with scheduled commercial service and on-airport industrial tenants. Comparable traffic profile and authority-style governance.
• Lincoln Airport (LNK): Lincoln Airport Authority operates LNK as a regional commercial and general aviation airport serving Lincoln, Nebraska. Similar-sized authority operating commercial service plus adjacent general aviation and aviation support businesses.
• Rickenbacker International Airport: Cargo/logistics-focused regional airport in Columbus, OH adjacent to large aviation and industrial tenants. Comparable mix of airside ops plus significant on-airport industrial real estate and e-commerce/logistics tenant base.
• Sioux Falls Regional Airport: Mid-size Midwest regional airport operated by the Sioux Falls Regional Airport Authority with scheduled commercial service and adjacent industrial development. Salina-like blend of commercial aviation and diversified non-aeronautical revenue.
• Topeka Regional Airport (Forbes Field): Former military airfield like Schilling, redeveloped by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority as a regional airport with general aviation, MRO, and industrial tenants. Strongest direct analogue as a former Air Force base conversion with long runway and aviation industrial park.
• Alliance Airport (Fort Worth): Hillwood-developed mixed-use airport and industrial complex near Fort Worth combining aviation, logistics, and manufacturing tenants on a large campus. Closest peer to Salina's airport-plus-industrial-park business model.

Broad incumbents

• Atlantic Aviation: Major U.S. FBO chain operating at regional airports nationwide. Indirect peer competing for corporate aviation, fueling, and hangar services volume that Salina hosts at SLN.
• Signature Aviation: Largest global FBO network operating at airports worldwide including many regional fields similar to SLN. Indirect peer as a broader aviation services incumbent that competes for general aviation services volume at regional airports.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SalinaAirport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SalinaAirport
• Facebookfacebook.com/salinaairportauthority
• Instagraminstagram.com/salinaairportauthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fossett-plaza

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salina Airport Authority