Maryland Aviation Administration

What Maryland Aviation Administration does

The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) is a state government agency within the Maryland Department of Transportation that operates and regulates Maryland's aviation system. Its core operational footprint is Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall) — the busiest commercial airport in the Baltimore/Washington region — and Martin State Airport (MTN), the region's busiest general aviation facility. MAA also exercises statewide regulatory authority over 132 public and private landing facilities through the Office of Regional Aviation Assistance and administers a $3 million annual grants-in-aid program. MAA delivers a portfolio of services including airport operations and maintenance, ARFF fire and rescue, environmental planning and noise monitoring, building and zoning permitting, residential sound insulation, commercial courtesy vehicle licensing, parking and ground transportation, and tenant/airline leasing. The product technology stack is largely non-proprietary: it relies on FAA-mandated systems (LAANC, Drone Zone), commercial platforms (Velocity Payment portal, SurveyMonkey), and standard permitting workflows, with notable domain-specialized capabilities in wildlife-strike-hazard stormwater engineering, fire and rescue apparatus, and emergency medical services.

The business model is hybrid public-fee/transaction-based. MAA generates revenue through airline use and lease agreements (the 2019 agreement alone commits over $1 billion), landing and terminal fees, commercial tenant leases, concession and parking revenue, and a slate of permit fees (Airport Operating Licenses at $25 initial/$10 renewal for public use; Building Permits at $0 application cost; Commercial Courtesy Vehicle Permits prorated quarterly from $100 to $25 per vehicle). Customer segments are diverse: commercial airline partners at BWI, general aviation operators at MTN, airport tenants and commercial operators, military personnel and families served via the USO International Gateway Lounge, and 132 statewide public-use airports receiving grants and regulatory oversight. MAA's distribution model is primarily direct through airport terminals and field offices in Linthicum and Middle River, augmented by a self-serve digital portal for permits, payments, and noise complaints.

Growth is funded through FAA federal grants, state appropriations, and tax-exempt revenue bond issuances — including a $200 million refunding series in February 2021 and a $425 million new-money issuance in July 2021 backing BWI's largest capital project. Recent strategic activity is concentrated on leadership renewal (Shannetta Griffin appointed Executive Director in April 2025; Keiva Rodriques appointed COO in July 2023), the BWI Air Service Incentive Program (2025), and the establishment of the Maryland Advanced Air Mobility Council to coordinate statewide UAS/eVTOL policy.

Name

Maryland Aviation Administration

Legal name

Maryland Aviation Administration

Website

https://marylandaviation.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Maryland Aviation Administration is a Maryland state government agency that operates BWI Marshall and Martin State airports, regulates 132 statewide aviation facilities, and provides airport infrastructure, fire and rescue, permitting, environmental, and air service programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations & Aviation Infrastructure

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), 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)

akta.pro secondary industry

UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Airport operations management
• Aviation infrastructure services
• Airline lease administration
• Airport fire and rescue
• Aviation permitting and zoning

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Airport Operations Fees: Revenue generated from airport operations including landing fees, terminal fees, and various permits for commercial activities at BWI Marshall and Martin State Airports
2. Commercial Business Revenue: Revenue from commercial operators, courtesy vehicle permits, and business licensing at airports
3. Airline Lease Agreements: Revenue from airline use and lease agreements generating substantial income for airport operations

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAA operates BWI Marshall Airport (the primary commercial airport in the Baltimore/Washington region) and Martin State Airport (the busiest general aviation airport in the region), and oversees Maryland's statewide aviation system of 132 public and private landing facilities through its Office of Regional Aviation Assistance. The agency delivers airport operations, fire and rescue, environmental and noise management, permitting and zoning, and community engagement services, funded through airline lease revenue, landing/terminal fees, commercial permits, and federal FAA funding.

Product overview

The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) is a state government agency operating under the Maryland Department of Transportation. It governs and operates BWI Marshall Airport (the primary commercial airport serving the Baltimore-Washington region) and Martin State Airport (a general aviation facility), along with the Office of Regional Aviation Assistance program supporting 132 landing facilities statewide. MAA's product portfolio includes airport operations and maintenance services, fire and rescue services, environmental planning and noise management programs, permitting services for airport construction and development, recreational facilities like the BWI Hiker Biker Trail, community engagement programs including the USO Lounge and Community Partners Program, and an online payment portal for various airport fees and services. The organization also provides internship programs and drone authorization services through FAA systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BWI Marshall Airport Operations Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport provides passenger flights, cargo operations, terminal facilities, ground transportation, and parking for the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, serving commercial airline partners.
• Martin State Airport Operations

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 billion in airline use and lease agreement revenue (2019)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall AirportcoreOthersBWI Marshall Airport is the primary commercial airport operated by MAA, serving as the main hub for airline operations, passenger services, and cargo activities in the Maryland aviation system.
• Martin State AirportcoreOthersMartin State Airport is the general aviation airport operated by MAA, serving as the busiest general aviation facility in the Baltimore/Washington region with fixed base operations.
• 132 Maryland Public and Private Landing FacilitiescoreOthersMAA's Office of Regional Aviation Assistance oversees and supports 132 public and private aviation facilities across Maryland through licensing, regulation, and a $3 million annual grants-in-aid program.
• USO (United Service Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAA provides space to USO at $1/year rent for 5,000 sq ft facility serving military personnel. MAA employees volunteer and support USO programs including Honor Flights and Pathfinders. USO serves 5,000+ military members monthly.
• Maryland Department of TransportationcoreOthersMAA is part of the Maryland Department of Transportation system, receiving federal funding through FAA and coordinating with other state transportation agencies.
• DC Metroplex BWI Community RoundtableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity advisory group addressing aircraft noise concerns for communities near BWI. MAA participates in quarterly meetings and provides noise reports and flight tracking information.
• Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic/private cooperative partner in building and maintaining the 12.5-mile BWI Hiker-Biker Trail encircling the airport.
• State Highway AdministrationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BWI Hiker-Biker Trail development and maintenance, connecting hikers and cyclists to public transportation and community resources.
• Federal Aviation AdministrationcoreOthersFAA provides federal funding, regulatory oversight, and safety standards for airport operations. MAA coordinates on environmental assessments, airspace approvals, and airport development plans.
• Maryland Department of the EnvironmentcoreOthersMDE provides regulatory oversight for environmental compliance including stormwater management, wetland protections, and environmental planning for airport development.
• Indianapolis Airport AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior employer of Executive Director Shannetta Griffin; reference for executive's experience in airport management and capital development.
• Columbus Regional Airport AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrior employer of Executive Director Shannetta Griffin; reference for executive's experience in airport commercial development and $2 billion terminal project.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wayne County Airport Authority: Operates Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport as an independent authority. Comparable single-primary-airport authority structure with airline lease arrangements and capital bond programs similar in scale to MAA.
• Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport): Operates Boston Logan International Airport and other aviation facilities as a state authority. Directly comparable mid-Atlantic/Northeast state port and aviation authority with similar regulatory and operational mandate.
• Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Operates Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports as an independent authority. Comparable mid-sized authority structure with similar airline use agreement economics and bond-financed capital programs.
• San Diego County Regional Airport Authority: Operates San Diego International Airport as an independent authority. Comparable independent authority model managing a single primary commercial airport with similar regulatory and capital structures.
• Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority: Operates Washington Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airports in the same Baltimore/Washington corridor as MAA's BWI Marshall. Directly comparable multi-airport government/authority operator with similar regulatory, capital, and airline relationship structures.
• Hillsborough County Aviation Authority: Operates Tampa International Airport and general aviation facilities as an independent authority. Comparable in size, governance structure, and reliance on airline use and lease agreements for revenue.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA): Operates LAX and Van Nuys airports as a city department. Comparable as a public-sector operator of primary commercial and general aviation facilities with significant capital programs and tenant lease structures.
• Chicago Department of Aviation: Operates O'Hare and Midway airports as a city government entity, similar to MAA's status as a state aviation agency. Comparable in managing multiple commercial airports with large capital programs.
• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Operates JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, and Stewart airports as a bi-state authority. Comparable as a large multi-airport government authority with significant capital programs and airline lease agreements, though operating at much larger scale.
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport: Jointly operated by multiple Texas municipalities with similar joint-owner governance to a multi-jurisdictional authority. Comparable as a major hub airport with significant bond issuance history and airline use agreements.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mdaviation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-aviation-administration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Aviation Administration