Donald Trump is right: America’s airports are awful

By A.W. | WASHINGTON, DC

FACT-CHECKERS had a field day with Donald Trump’s Monday night debate performance, finding fault with his claims on a wide array of subjects, from Barack Obama’s birthplace to whether he has denied climate change. But one statement he made largely evaded scrutiny. “Our airports are like from a third-world country,” he said during a brief exchange on American infrastructure, specifically mentioning New York’s three international airports and Los Angeles International Airport.

More Trump hyperbole? Actually, no. This might be a rare Trump understatement.

Skytrax releases an annual ranking of the world’s top 100 airports. This year’s list puts five airports in developing countries ahead of the top American airport, Denver International, which lies in 28th place. (“Third-world country” is a dated and loaded term, so I am referring to the International Monetary Fund’s 2015 list of developing economies. Hong Kong, whose airport is fifth in the world, is excluded here, since the airport was planned and largely built before the state rejoined China.) The top 50 includes 15 airports in developing countries and just four in the United States.

None of the four that Mr Trump mentioned are in the top 50. New York JFK and Los Angeles LAX come in 59th and 91st, respectively. Newark and LaGuardia don’t even make the top 100.

What is it that makes American airports so bad? There are a number of factors, beginning with chronic underinvestment in public infrastructure across the country. (Mr Trump and Hillary Clinton, who are worlds apart on most issues, actually agree on the need for much more infrastructure spending, bickering only about who is promising to spend more.) Hours before the debate, the Hollywood Reporter published a feature on why LAX—the country’s second-busiest airport—is so terrible, following up on a 240-page critique of the airport earlier this year by the Los Angeles City Controller’s office. (Short answer: horrendous traffic, long lines, bad wi-fi, meagre dining options.)

But part of the answer can be traced to a related trend: the poor performance of American airlines compared with international rivals. While places such as Qatar and Abu Dhabi compete for those flying between Europe, Asia and America, who can choose to make stopovers in any number of midpoints, American cities do not really benefit from such international layover traffic—or feel the need to compete for it. So while both Singapore Changi (the top airport) and Emirates (the top airline) add new amenities to lure international travellers, America’s carriers and hubs are more focused on the dominant domestic market, where there isn’t as much competition or pressure to improve. Likewise, while some governments invest heavily and directly in their flagship airports (and airlines), budgets in America are often controlled by hamstrung airport authorities.

Still, regardless of who wins in November, America’s next president will have campaigned for big infrastructure improvements. Perhaps we will begin to see the fruits of that promise. But America’s airports “like from a third-world country”? It may be some time before they reach those heights.