What Smyrna/Rutherford Co Airport Authority does

Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority is a public-sector government entity that owns and operates Smyrna Airport (MQY), a 1,700-acre general aviation reliever facility located 12 nautical miles south of Nashville International Airport. Jointly owned by the Town of Smyrna (40%) and Rutherford County (60%) and governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, the Authority operates under FAA Part 139 Class IV certification and maintains dual runways (8,038 ft primary capable of handling Boeing 747 aircraft, and a reconstructed 5,546 ft secondary runway reopened in 2025), a complete Instrument Landing System, airfield lighting, and a 365-day air traffic control tower. The facility supports corporate aviation, general aviation operators, military training with the Tennessee Army National Guard (joint-use), flight training schools, MRO providers, and two Fixed Base Operators (Azure Flight Support and Hollingshead Aviation).

The Authority's revenue model is built on recurring lease income across three streams: aviation operations (hangar and tie-down rentals, fuel flowage through FBOs), the 400-acre master-planned Airport Business Park developed in partnership with Hillwood Enterprises ($102 million commitment across four buildings, including the 622,830-square-foot NFI distribution facility serving Lowe's), and supplementary lines such as a 6-acre solar farm generating $50,000 annually. Capital projects are heavily supported by state and federal aviation grants—approximately $30 million cumulatively over 25 years—with notable recent awards of $1.9 million (2018), $8 million (2021), and a $13 million Runway 1/19 reconstruction completed in 2025. The Authority is also responsible for a 24/7 Department of Public Safety providing fire and EMS coverage on the airfield.

According to the most recent TDOT economic impact study (2019), the airport contributes $232 million annually to the Tennessee economy, supports 1,526 on-airport jobs, and generates $92.5 million in payroll—a tripling of impact since 2012. Over 50 businesses operate on-site at 95% business park occupancy, and the airport handles in excess of 100,000 flight operations annually, making it the busiest general aviation airport in Tennessee and the third largest by land area. Customer segments span corporate aviation users (Nissan, State Farm, General Mills, Bridgestone, Verizon, Lowe's), industrial/logistics tenants in the business park, and aviation training and MRO service providers.

Name

Smyrna/Rutherford Co Airport Authority

Legal name

Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority

Website

https://smyrnaairport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority is a public government entity that owns and operates Smyrna Airport, Tennessee's third-largest and busiest general aviation facility. It serves corporate aviation users, general aviation operators, military, flight training schools, and industrial tenants across a 1,700-acre site with dual runways and a 400-acre business park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

General Aviation Airport Operations

NAICS

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

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

Keywords

• General aviation airport
• FBO services
• Business park leasing
• Aircraft maintenance MRO
• Flight training facilities

Headquarters

HQ city

Smyrna

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aviation Operations: Revenue from aviation services including hangar leasing, fuel sales through FBOs, and general aviation operations
2. Business Park Leasing: Long-term lease arrangements with industrial developers such as Hillwood Enterprises ($102 million commitment) and tenants like NFI. Airport generates $1.8 million in other airport leases including Contour Aviation, Hollingshead Aviation Services, Vanderbilt LifeFlight and Midsouth Aviation
3. Solar Farm Revenue: $50,000 annual public-private partnership revenue from 6-acre solar farm with 3,400 solar panels
4. Federal Aviation Grants: Capital project funding from federal aviation grants; approximately $30 million won in federal aviation grants over 25 years

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority operates Smyrna Airport (MQY), a 1,700-acre general aviation airport and reliever for Nashville International, with two runways (8,038 ft and 5,546 ft), an Instrument Landing System, and air traffic control. Core offerings include airport operations and airfield services, Fixed Base Operator fuel and aircraft handling via partner FBOs, business park industrial ground leasing (400-acre Airport Business Park developed with Hillwood Enterprises), aircraft maintenance/MRO partnerships, and flight training partnerships with multiple schools.

Product overview

Smyrna/Rutherford Co Airport Authority operates a multi-faceted aviation facility centered on Smyrna Airport (MQY), a general aviation reliever airport. The core offering is airport operations including two runways with instrument landing system and air traffic control. Adjacent services include Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) providing fuel, aircraft storage, and maintenance; aircraft maintenance MRO services; and flight training through partner schools. The Authority has expanded into non-aviation revenue streams including the 400-acre Airport Business Park for industrial/commercial development (developed with Hillwood Enterprises), a solar farm for sustainability revenue, and biennial Great Tennessee Air Show events. The terminal building also offers conference and meeting facility rentals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airport Business Park: A 400-acre master-planned development at the airport offering aviation sites with direct airfield access, corporate headquarter locations, and commercial and industrial sites.
• Great Tennessee Air Show
• Solar Farm

Products and services

• Smyrna Airport (MQY) Operations
• Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Services
• Aircraft Maintenance and MRO Services
• Airport Business Park Leasing
• Flight Training Services
• Great Tennessee Air Show
• Solar Farm Energy Generation
• Conference and Business Center Facilities

Quantifiable outcome

• Economic impact of $232 million annually to Tennessee economy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Hillwood Enterprises LLCflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Dallas-Fort Worth based development company led by Chairman Ross Perot Jr. committed $102 million to four buildings in the Airport Business Park. First industrial development in the 400-acre business park. Two initial buildings completed (600,000 and 300,000 square feet) with two additional buildings under $46 million lease agreement. Generates $500,000 annually from all four buildings over 50-year lease terms.
• NFIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Third-party logistics company leasing 622,830-square-foot building at airport business park serving Lowe's stores. Pledged to create 170 jobs paying average of $15/hour. Committed $7.2 million investment in personal property including equipment. Received five-year $288,684 property tax break agreement.
• Tennessee National GuardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Joint-use facility with Tennessee Army National Guard. Airport serves as military flight training facility and hurricane evacuation point for military bases along Gulf and East Coasts. More than 100 National Guard soldiers stationed at facility.
• AirSign Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Florida-based company that acquired Van Wagner Airship Group including American Blimp Company and its 15 airships. Operates world's largest airship fleet from Smyrna Airport.
• Rutherford County Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization dedicated to leadership for creating best business environment while enhancing quality of life. Works to positively impact economic vitality and support growth of Chamber member businesses. Collaborates with airport on business recruitment and economic development initiatives.
• Azure Flight SupportcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFixed Base Operator providing aircraft reception, lounge areas, fuel (Jet-A & 100LL), maintenance services, aircraft storage (hangars, T-Hangars, Tie-Downs), on-demand charter, line services, courtesy cars, aircraft management and sales, and government services.
• Hollingshead AviationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFixed Base Operator providing climate-controlled community hangar space, T-Hangars, and Tie-Downs. Services include line services, courtesy cars, concierge, pilot lounge & snooze room, walk-in shower, business station, presentation-equipped conference room, gourmet catering, and auto detail services.
• Contour AviationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHeadquartered at Smyrna Airport with over 600 team members. Offers private jet charter, regional airline service, aircraft maintenance, fixed base operations, and aircraft sales. One of tenants generating $1.8 million in airport leases.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Centennial Airport (APA): Colorado's busiest general aviation reliever for Denver, operating two FBOs (Signature Flight Support and Sheltair) with corporate aviation, flight training, and on-airport business park. Closest direct comparable to Smyrna in scale, infrastructure, and customer mix.
• Lakefront Airport (NEW): Reliever GA airport serving New Orleans with FBOs, corporate aviation, and flight training operations. Operates under a similar public-authority governance model to Smyrna and serves a comparable business aviation niche.
• DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK): Atlanta's busiest general aviation reliever airport with multiple FBOs, flight schools, and corporate tenants. Comparable to Smyrna as a reliever facility serving a major commercial hub (ATL) with strong corporate demand.
• John C. Tune Airport (JWN): BNA-owned reliever GA airport also serving Middle Tennessee corporate and general aviation demand. Directly competes for the same Nashville-area GA users as Smyrna and is the closest geographic competitor.
• Manassas Regional Airport (HEF): Busy Washington DC-area reliever GA airport with FBOs, flight training, and significant corporate aviation traffic from government and contractor users. Comparable to Smyrna in operating model and tenant mix.
• Fort Worth Alliance Airport (AFW): Major industrial-airport hybrid operated by Hillwood (the same development partner that committed $102M to Smyrna's business park). Combines air cargo, FBOs, and an integrated industrial/logistics park — directly analogous to Smyrna's business model.
• Falcon Field Airport (FFZ): Busy Arizona GA reliever airport serving the Phoenix metro with FBOs, flight training, MRO, and adjacent industrial/airport business park development. Comparable in scale, customer mix, and real estate monetization model.
• Addison Airport (ADS): One of the busiest GA reliever airports in the US, serving Dallas with extensive FBO services, flight training, and corporate tenants. Closely comparable in scale and operational mix to Smyrna.

Broad incumbents

• Nashville International Airport (BNA): The primary commercial hub that Smyrna explicitly serves as a reliever airport, located 12 miles north. Operates a much larger passenger and cargo operation with on-site FBOs and broader aviation services that overlap with Smyrna's corporate aviation niche.

Regional players

• Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (MBT): Public general aviation airport located roughly 20 miles east of Smyrna in the same Middle Tennessee market. Competes for regional GA traffic and corporate users in adjacent Rutherford County.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smyrna-rutherford-county-airport-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Smyrna/Rutherford Co Airport Authority