FAA throws cold water on Burke closure
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The federal government has erected an unwieldy roadblock in front of Cleveland's effort to close Burke Lakefront Airport.
Why it matters: Federal opposition effectively forecloses the city's clearest path to redeveloping the 450-acre lakefront property, at least in the near future.
Driving the news: Federal Aviation Administration administrator Bryan Bedford said Friday his agency opposes shuttering Burke.
- The U.S. aviation system needs more capacity, not less, Bedford told News 5, as drones and electric air taxis become more prevalent.
What they're saying: Ohio's two Republican U.S. senators are siding with him, with Sen. Bernie Moreno even more definitive.
- "There is no scenario in which Burke Lakefront Airport would be closed, given the study and time that the FAA has spent analyzing this," News 5 quoted him as saying.
Between the lines: The announcements came despite a recent lobbying push by Mayor Justin Bibb.
- Signal Cleveland reports Bibb traveled to Washington in June for separate meetings with Moreno, Jon Husted, U.S. Reps. Shontel Brown, Max Miller and Dave Joyce, plus a senior Department of Transportation official.
The other side: The Bibb administration said it is "disheartened" by the FAA's position, arguing Burke is an underused public asset that has operated at a multimillion-dollar deficit while occupying valuable lakefront property.
Reality check: Cleveland could theoretically close Burke without FAA approval once federal and state grant obligations expire in 2039.
Go deeper: Cleveland Clinic and UH have no position on Burke's future