The City of Festus has decided to sell the only airport in Jefferson County. The Suburban Journals story serves as a terrific entryway for me to recommend several studies by the Reason Foundation about privatized airports. There is absolutely no reason why governments alone should manage and operate airports.
I should be clear that this particular airport is not being sold specifically so a private company can operate it as a for-profit business. That could happen, but they also might sell it to neighboring companies who would stop using the land for an airport entirely. I certainly hope the private operators who buy it will keep it in use as an airport, but that is my heart talking. My head says Festus should do whatever is best for the citizens of Festus, which is exactly what they are doing. Anyway, airport privatization is an interesting issue, and one that the city of St. Louis might have to consider for Lambert in the long run as a potential move.
