Let's start with this presumption: do they really? Are they privately held? Why? Were they built with private money or public money? Isn't the purpose of airports to facilitate access to the local economy, thus benefitting local businesses, and should thus be funded from general tax revenue?
Like so much in the US, payment is demanded for anything of remotely private benefit, even if the majority of the benefit is to the commons. Take TSA Pre-Check, or Global Entry as an example. In other countries, these programs (electronic entry) are the default for all citizens, provided for free, because they make airport operations more efficient as a whole, which means the airport can service more people, more efficiently. But in the US, it saves the individual a few minutes, so be prepared to pay a yearly fee for the privilege!
It's precisely for reasons like $15 turkey sandwiches that New York airports are to be avoided (i.e. as stopovers). Treating the traveling public as feudal serfs is practically the definition of mismanagement.
Let's start with this presumption: do they really? Are they privately held? Why? Were they built with private money or public money? Isn't the purpose of airports to facilitate access to the local economy, thus benefitting local businesses, and should thus be funded from general tax revenue?
Like so much in the US, payment is demanded for anything of remotely private benefit, even if the majority of the benefit is to the commons. Take TSA Pre-Check, or Global Entry as an example. In other countries, these programs (electronic entry) are the default for all citizens, provided for free, because they make airport operations more efficient as a whole, which means the airport can service more people, more efficiently. But in the US, it saves the individual a few minutes, so be prepared to pay a yearly fee for the privilege!
It's precisely for reasons like $15 turkey sandwiches that New York airports are to be avoided (i.e. as stopovers). Treating the traveling public as feudal serfs is practically the definition of mismanagement.