Richmond International Airport Earns 2026 Global Efficiency Excellence Award

Named Most Efficient Airport in North America Under 5 Million Passengers

Richmond International Airport (RIC) has been named the most efficient airport under 5 million passengers in North America, earning the Air Transport Research Society’s (ATRS) 2026 Global Airport Efficiency Award.

The Air Transport Research Society’s Airport Efficiency Excellence Awards recognize airports that demonstrate outstanding operational efficiency, productivity, and cost competitiveness. This year’s results came from a year-long analysis of Fiscal Year 2024 data by the ATRS Global Airport Benchmarking Task Force.

The 2026 awards were presented on July 3, 2026, during the 2026 ATRS World Conference held in Beijing, China. Perry Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport, accepted RIC’s awards via video from Richmond, Virginia. He emphasized that a major goal for the airport is delivering an exceptional customer experience while maintaining the fiscal discipline necessary to keep air travel accessible and affordable.

“The principles on which the Air Transport Research Society measures airport excellence are integral to how RIC serves its passengers, airline partners, employees, and community every day,” Miller said. “This recognition belongs to the talented professionals of Team RIC whose dedication, innovation, and commitment continue to advance our mission of propelling regional prosperity and our vision of becoming the region’s preferred gateway to the world.”

According to an awards’ summary from ATRS, “winners are selected using the residual Variable Factor Productivity index, comparing airports within their region and size category and identifying the efficiency that cannot be explained away by factors such as traffic volume, fleet mix or geography. In other words, what remains is a strong signal of operational excellence.”

Every month, RIC tracks factors that are critical to assessing and maintaining airport efficiency, including operating expenses, emergency services, maintenance and repairs, and even promotional costs. This conservative, stakeholder-first approach helps minimize costs for airline partners and the passengers they serve.

RIC’s commitment is reflected in its five-year strategic plan, Wheels Up 2030, which is guided by five priorities captured in the acronym POWER: Passenger Experience, Operational Excellence, Workforce Development, Enterprise Revenue and Growth, and Regional Impact and Resilience. These strategic pillars provide a clear framework for sustainable growth and ensure that every investment strengthens the airport’s future competitiveness.

2026 Global Airport Efficiency Award Winners – North America

• Richmond International Airport (RIC) – Under 5 million passengers
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND) – 5–20 million passengers
• Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) – 20–40 million passengers
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – 40+ million passengers

About Richmond International Airport (RIC)  

Richmond International Airport’s vision is to be the region’s preferred gateway to the world by focusing on world-class customer experience and operational excellence that drives passenger choice. Activities at RIC contribute nearly 13,500 jobs and $2.97 billion to central Virginia’s economy, according to a new report from the VCU School of Business Executive MBA program. To learn more, please visit RIC on the web, X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube.