Ricondo & Associates, Inc.

What Ricondo & Associates, Inc. does

Ricondo & Associates, Inc. is an independent, 100% employee-owned aviation management consulting firm founded in 1989 by Ramon Ricondo in Chicago. Operating exclusively in the aviation sector, the firm provides strategic advisory, financial, facilities & operations, and environmental services to airport owners and operators, airlines, and federal and state aviation agencies in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. As of April 2025, Ricondo operates from 13 locations across the US and UK with a workforce described as "hundreds of professionals," delivering engagements through project-based mandates and multi-year on-call planning contracts — including 5 consecutive on-call wins at MWAA since 2005 and a 30-year continuous relationship with the Chicago Department of Aviation.

The firm's offering is organized around four service lines (Business Advisory, Financial Services, Facilities & Operations, and Environmental Services) wrapped by V3CTOR™, a proprietary trademarked Quality Assurance process that governs discovery, development, and delivery. Technical capabilities include FAA Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) noise and air quality modeling, airfield/terminal/roadway simulation modeling, 3-D terminal spatial analysis, and a custom Data Insights and Vision Analytics toolkit. The vision analytics component, built in-house by Associate Director Joel Peach, deploys computer vision software and proprietary battery-powered camera hardware to study passenger processing, curb recirculation rates, and traffic classification at airports such as Hamad International (Qatar) and Ontario International.

Ricondo generates revenue through professional services engagements priced per scope, including on-call planning contracts, bond feasibility analyses (the firm has supported feasibility work underpinning over $5 billion of revenue bond financing), NEPA/CEQA environmental documentation, master planning studies, and capital programming. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting large-hub airports and federal/state aviation agencies, augmented by event-driven demand generation at ACI-NA, AAAE, AMAC, and PTE World conferences, and thought-leadership content in Airport Magazine, TR News, and ACRP research reports. Over 90% of assignments originate from repeat clients, evidencing a community-led, relationship-driven commercial model.

Name

Ricondo & Associates, Inc.

Legal name

Ricondo & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://ricondo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ricondo & Associates is an independent, 100% employee-owned aviation management consulting firm serving airport owners, airlines, and federal and state aviation agencies with strategic advisory, financial, facilities & operations, and environmental services from 13 offices across the US and UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Aviation Management Consulting Services: Ricondo generates revenue through professional services engagements providing strategic advisory, financial, facilities & operations, and environmental consulting exclusively to airports. Engagements are project-based or on-call contracts (e.g., MWAA on-call consultant 5 times consecutively since 2005; 20+ year relationship with Hillsborough County Aviation Authority since 1997; 30-year relationship with Chicago Department of Aviation). Long-term client relationships are foundational.
2. Financial and Bond Feasibility Advisory: Revenue from financial modeling, feasibility studies (including bond feasibility for airport revenue and special facility revenue bonds), and capital programming. Ricondo has led or participated in financial feasibility analyses in support of over $5 billion of revenue bond financing.
3. Multi-year On-Call Planning Service Contracts: Recurring revenue from multi-year on-call planning contracts with airport authorities. Examples: 3-year contract with Houston Airport System; consecutive on-call wins for MWAA at DCA and IAD (5 times since 2005); on-call contract with Broward County Aviation Department since 2015; on-call contracts with Port of Seattle, Port of Portland, Sacramento County, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority, and LAWA.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ricondo is an independent employee-owned management consulting firm focused exclusively on airports. It delivers strategic advisory, financial, facilities & operations, and environmental consulting services to airport owners/operators, airlines, and federal and state aviation agencies through project-based and multi-year on-call contracts. Engagements span airport master planning, terminal and airfield design, landside access, NEPA/CEQA environmental documentation, FAA AEDT noise and air quality modeling, bond feasibility studies, and capital programming, all governed by the proprietary V3CTOR Quality Assurance process.

Product overview

Ricondo delivers its aviation consulting offering as a unified firm-level practice organized into four core service lines (Business Advisory, Financial, Facilities & Operations, and Environmental Services) wrapped by V3CTOR, Ricondo's proprietary branded Quality Assurance methodology that governs how every project is managed across Discovery, Development, and Delivery. Embedded within Business Advisory is Data Insights (Ricondo's data analytics and visualization capability) and Data Insights and Vision Analytics (extending Data Insights with computer-vision-based computer-vision pipelines), supported by a custom-developed computer vision software capability (built and operated by Ricondo's Joel Peach) that processes video and imagery from curb and roadway cameras to study passenger processing and traffic flows. The Airport Mode Choice and Ground Simulator Template is a published analytical deliverable Ricondo produced as prime consultant for ACRP Report 215.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• V3CTOR: Ricondo's Quality Assurance solution/process that manages quality assurance across three fundamental phases of a project: discovery, development, and delivery.

Products and services

• Business Advisory Services Management consulting and advisory services for airport owners, airlines, and federal/state aviation agencies. Sub-capabilities include Development Strategy, Air Service Analysis, Airline Negotiations, Commercial Management, Rental Car Business, and Data Insights.
• Financial Services Aviation financial strategy and airport fiscal operations services including Financial Modeling, Feasibility Analysis (e.g., revenue and special facility revenue bond feasibility studies), and Capital Programming (cost-revenue and cost-benefit analyses for CIPs). Ricondo has led or participated in financial feasibility analyses supporting over $5 billion of revenue bond financing.
• Facilities and Operations Services Airport master planning and operations consulting covering Airfield/Airspace, Terminal (layout, operational analysis, requirements programming), and Landside (ground transportation, parking, rail/automated people mover alignment, rental car and multi-use facility planning).
• Environmental Services Environmental consulting for airports covering NEPA/State Documentation (incl. CEQA), Noise Analysis (leveraging FAA's AEDT), Air Quality Analysis, Land Use Compatibility, and Sustainability (sustainability management plans, carbon neutrality, zero waste initiatives). Nearly 150 airports worldwide have been served with noise/air quality analyses.
• V3CTOR Quality Assurance Solution Ricondo's branded QA/QC process managing quality assurance across three phases — Discovery, Development, and Delivery — including Subject Matter Expert Review, Technical Review, and Officer Review stages, designed to ensure deliverables are technically accurate, clearly articulated, unbiased, compliant, implementable, strategically aligned, financially responsible, and sustainable.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90% of assignments from repeat clients
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Airports Council International (ACI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicondo is a partner of Airports Council International, with the ACI partner logo displayed on the website footer. Ricondo regularly participates in ACI-NA Annual Conferences, ACI World events, and Airports@Work conferences, and Ricondo consultants serve in advisory roles within ACI structures. Catherine Lang served as past Chairman of the Board of ACI-North America.
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRicondo co-hosts the AAAE Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and Rates & Charges Workshops, presenting sessions and moderating panels. Ricondo consultants regularly participate in AAAE's Annual Conference & Exposition and present at the Innovation Showcase. Jason Apt is a Certified Member of AAAE.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHendrik Orsinger is an active contributor and speaker supporting the development of IATA's Airport Development Reference Manual (10th edition). Larry Hilton was on the review team for IATA's Airport Design Reference Manual (10th edition).
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHendrik Orsinger is an active contributor supporting the development of ICAO's Airport Planning Manual, providing Ricondo with industry authority in international airport planning standards.
• Angel Flight OrganizationminorOthersIn memory of colleague Sébastien Carreau (passed May 2, 2024), Ricondo coordinated with Angel Flight Organization to receive donations. Angel Flight is a non-profit volunteer pilot organization providing air transportation for medical purposes when commercial service is not available.
• Transportation Research Board (TRB) / Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRicondo serves as prime consultant for ACRP Research Reports (e.g., Report 215 on Transportation Network Companies). Ricondo consultants serve as panel members and lead researchers on ACRP projects. Craig Leiner and Thomas Adler (RSG, Inc.) collaborated on a TNC article in TR News (Nov-Dec 2020).
• Airports Council International - Commercial CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJenna Buckner sits on the Airports Council International Commercial Committee and is active in the Airport Cooperative Research Program, currently serving as a panelist for online parking reservation systems.
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Board MemberminorOthersPete Ricondo is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives and an Associate Board Member for Airports Council International. Ramon Ricondo is also a member of AAAE.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Burns & McDonnell: 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with a significant aviation practice serving airports on planning, design, and program management. Competes with Ricondo for master planning and on-call planning contracts while also offering integrated design and construction services.
• WSP: Global professional services firm with a sizable aviation and transportation practice, providing planning, engineering, and program management for airport authorities. Competes with Ricondo on master planning, environmental, and on-call planning scopes, often with integrated design capabilities.
• HNTB Corporation: Employee-owned infrastructure firm with a significant aviation practice providing planning, environmental, design, and program management services to airports. Competes with Ricondo for on-call planning and master planning work at mid-size and large-hub airports.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting and engineering firm with a large aviation practice offering planning, design, program management, and construction services. Competes with Ricondo on large-hub airport master plans and major modernization programs through bundled delivery.
• Kimley-Horn: Major employee-owned planning, engineering, and design firm with a substantial aviation practice serving airport authorities on planning, environmental, and surface transportation projects. Competes with Ricondo on terminal, landside, and environmental planning scopes.
• LeighFisher (Jacobs): Aviation consulting firm acquired by Jacobs (formerly CH2M Hill) that historically competed directly with Ricondo on airport strategy, planning, and transaction advisory. Now embedded within Jacobs, one of the largest global engineering and consulting firms with a substantial aviation practice.

Regional players

• Crawford, Murphy & Tilly: Midwest-based engineering and planning firm with a significant aviation practice serving airports on planning, airfield design, and environmental services. Comparable peer in size and scope, often competing for on-call planning work at regional and mid-size US airports.

Direct peers

• Mead & Hunt: Employee-owned engineering and architectural firm with a dedicated aviation group providing planning, environmental, and design services to airports. Direct peer in the US airport consulting market, particularly for mid-size and regional airports and state aviation agencies.
• Landrum & Brown: Long-standing aviation-only management and planning consultancy founded in 1949, serving airports, airlines, and aviation agencies with planning, environmental, and financial services. Most direct head-to-head competitor to Ricondo in the US airport consulting market.

Emerging players

• Connico: US aviation consulting firm specializing in airport financial planning, bond feasibility, rates and charges, and benefit-cost analysis. Competes with Ricondo's Financial Services practice and is a smaller, focused competitor in the airport financial advisory niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ricondo-&-associates

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Ricondo & Associates, Inc.