Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority

What Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority does

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) is a government airport authority that operates Memphis International Airport (MEM) and related aviation infrastructure across the Memphis-Shelby County region in Tennessee. The authority serves three primary customer segments: passenger airlines and travelers, cargo operators (anchored by the FedEx World Hub, one of the largest cargo operations globally), and general aviation users. MSCAA operates four general aviation facilities — General DeWitt Spain Airport, Charles W. Baker Airport, Wilson Air Center, and Signature Flight Support — alongside the main commercial terminal.

The core platform is the commercial airport itself, with an integrated service architecture spanning flight operations (real-time flight status, terminal maps, airline directory), ground transportation (parking, rental cars, shuttles, Uber/Lyft integration, MEMPERKS loyalty program), passenger amenities (Delta Sky Club, dining, shopping, free Wi-Fi, Lost & Found), and accessibility services (Aira for visually impaired travelers, ADA accommodations, Recite Me web accessibility). The BEYOND Drone Program supports operational monitoring. Cargo operations are dominated by the FedEx World Hub. The MEM on the Move modernization initiative represents ongoing capital investment in concourse infrastructure.

Revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed but rely on airport fees and service charges negotiated with airlines and cargo operators, supplemented by parking revenue, concession income, commercial real estate leases, and general aviation FBO services. With 121 employees, MSCAA operates as a public entity governed by a Board of Commissioners with an approved FY2027 budget. Distribution is direct through physical airport infrastructure, supplemented by digital channels (flymemphis.com, MEM Notes newsletter, social media) and community engagement programs including the annual Runway 5K and Blue Suede Ambassadors volunteer program.

Name

Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority

Legal name

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority

Website

https://mscaa.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority operates Memphis International Airport as a government authority, serving passenger airlines, the FedEx World Hub cargo operation, and general aviation users through 121 employees across multiple facilities in Tennessee.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Airport Parking Shuttle Operators (THAIAFAD)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Air cargo handling
• Passenger terminal services
• General aviation facilities
• Airport infrastructure management

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority operates Memphis International Airport (MEM), providing commercial passenger terminal operations, air cargo handling through the FedEx World Hub, parking and ground transportation services, general aviation facilities, and related airport infrastructure across the Memphis-Shelby County region. The authority runs three concourses, multiple airline services, accessibility accommodations, dining and retail concessions, and oversees an ongoing modernization program called MEM on the Move.

Product overview

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) operates Memphis International Airport (MEM) as a single unified airport facility with a platform-plus-services architecture. The core offering is the commercial passenger airport itself, supported by integrated services including flight operations tracking (Flight Status, Terminal Map, Airlines at MEM), ground transportation (Parking, MEMPERKS loyalty program, Uber & Lyft integration, rental cars, shuttles), passenger amenities (Dining, Shopping, Delta Sky Club, Lost & Found), and accessibility services (Aira, ADA accommodations). Cargo operations center on the FedEx World Hub. Additional value-add programs include the BEYOND Drone Program, Arts in the Airport cultural program, MEM on the Move modernization initiative, community engagement (Runway 5K, Blue Suede Ambassadors), and business development programs (Air Service Incentive, Business Opportunity Development). General aviation is served through subsidiary airports (DeWitt Spain, Charles W. Baker, Wilson Air Center, Signature Flight Support).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Memphis International Airport (MEM)

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FedExcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFedEx World Hub is the primary cargo operation at MEM, making Memphis International Airport one of the busiest cargo airports worldwide. The partnership positions MEM as a critical logistics node in FedEx's global network.
• TSA (Transportation Security Administration)coreOthersTSA operates security checkpoints at MEM. For Memorial Day weekend, TSA projected 52,000+ passengers through checkpoint, with peak days handling approximately 9,600 people per day.
• Airlines at MEMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple passenger airlines operate at MEM including Delta (with Delta Sky Club), American Airlines, Southwest, and others serving nonstop destinations across the US network.
• General Aviation FBOsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeneral DeWitt Spain Airport, Charles W. Baker Airport, Wilson Air Center, and Signature Flight Support provide general aviation services at MEM.
• St. Jude Children's Research HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing a dedicated St. Jude patient lounge at MEM for families traveling for treatment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG): Kenton County Airport Board operates CVG, the North American hub for DHL/Amazon Air. CVG is a direct cargo-hub peer to MEM given its role as a major integrator hub serving a mid-size metro area.
• Greater Orlando Aviation Authority: Authority operating Orlando International Airport (MCO), a mid-to-large U.S. airport authority with comparable governance structure, multi-terminal passenger operations, and a similar reliance on a small set of major airline tenants.
• Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC): State-operated airport that, like MEM, is one of the world's busiest cargo airports by tonnage, with cargo throughput materially exceeding its passenger throughput. Direct peer on the cargo-led business model.
• Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF): Operated by the Louisville Regional Airport Authority and home to the UPS Worldport, SDF is the closest U.S. peer to MEM in terms of being a mid-size city airport dominated by a single integrator's global air cargo hub (UPS vs. FedEx).
• Indianapolis Airport Authority: Operates Indianapolis International Airport (IND), a comparable mid-size U.S. hub airport authority with significant FedEx Express operations, similar scale, and similar passenger-plus-cargo mix to MEM.

Broad incumbents

• Groupe ADP (Aéroports de Paris): Operates Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and other airports globally. Broad incumbent peer for benchmarking airport authority revenue streams (aeronautical, retail, real estate, parking) relevant to MEM's mix.
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport: Jointly operated by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, DFW is a large-hub U.S. airport with extensive cargo and passenger operations. A broader incumbent peer for benchmarking capex, airline mix, and concession revenue strategies.
• Aena S.M.E., S.A. The world's largest airport operator by passenger numbers, running a global portfolio of airports. Relevant as a broad incumbent benchmark for airport operator economics, even though MSCAA is a single-asset government authority.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Operated by the City of Atlanta's Department of Aviation, ATL is the largest U.S. hub by passenger volume. It is a broader-scale incumbent peer, illustrating what a scaled-up MEM-style hub airport looks like operationally and financially.

Others

• Signature Aviation: Listed FBO operator; MSCAA's Signature Flight Support subsidiary competes in the same general-aviation FBO market. Relevant as an ecosystem participant where MSCAA has a direct subsidiary overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/memphis-shelby-county-airport-authority

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority