Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

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Romulus, MI · DTW

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Recent News

Updated Mar 1, 2026
DTW Restroom Modernization Project Continues in McNamara Terminal

Work continues in the McNamara Terminal to modernize restrooms in Concourses A, B, and C, as well as the Ground Transportation Center. The redesigned restrooms feature upgraded lighting and fixtures as part of ongoing terminal improvements.

Wayne County Airport Authority
Wayne County Airport Board Votes to Continue ICE Detainee Flights

Wayne County Airport Authority board voted 7-0 on February 21 to keep flights carrying immigrant detainees moving through Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Willow Run Airport. The board signed a statement promising continued cooperation with law enforcement while affirming commitment to constitutional rights, despite protests from activists.

Hoodline·Feb 21, 2026
Man Suspected in DTW Terminal Crash Charged with Aggravated Stalking

Brian Sutton, 37, the man suspected in the January 23 McNamara Terminal crash at DTW, was charged with aggravated stalking in a separate incident and arraigned on February 14. Airport police are seeking additional charges including aggravated assault, malicious destruction of property, operating while intoxicated, and reckless driving for the airport crash.

CBS Detroit·Feb 14, 2026

Airport Profile

Governing EntityWayne County Airport Authority
Entity TypeCounty Authority
Fiscal Year EndSeptember
Bond TypeGARB
Rate MethodologyResidual
AUA StatusActive
Agreement Period2002-01-01 – 2032-12-31
S&PA
Moody'sA2
FitchA+

Key Financial Data (FY 2024)

CPE$8.88
Signatory Landing Fee$1.7600
Enplanements16,453,913
Total Operating Revenue$396.4M
Total Operating Expense$354.8M
Operating Income$41.6M
Total Debt$2.0B
Rate Covenant1.25x
Unrestricted Cash$288.9M
Landed Weight (1000 lbs)20,112,891

Enplaned Passengers (T-100)

13.5M-14.6%

Cost per Enplanement (CPE)

$8.88+1.1%

Revenue

$396.4M+1.5%

Expense

$354.8M-16.5%

Ratemaking Overview

Overall MethodologyResidual
Ratesetting Typeagreement
Cost Center StructureThree Cost Centers: (1) South Terminal Cost Center, (2) North Terminal Cost Center, (3) Airport Cost Center. Each Cost Center groups certain areas for accounting Revenues, O&M Expenses, and Bond Debt Service. Cost Centers defined in Exhibit J. O&M Expenses and Bond Debt Service allocated to Cost Centers per Exhibit E.
Revenue SharingConcession and parking revenue credited against Activity Fee Rate calculation (airfield). Included in the 'minus' portion of Revenue Requirement formula — reduces what airlines must pay through Activity Fees. Terminal Cost Centers credit terminal concession revenue indirectly by excluding it from terminal rental revenue.
Capital RecoveryDebt service component recovered through landing fees and capital fees

Residual allocation of net remaining revenues among signatory airlines based on usage metrics

Settlement & True-Up

Monthly settlement with annual true-up adjustment

Annual reconciliation between estimated and actual costs; adjustments billed or credited to signatory airlines

Extraordinary Coverage Protection (ECP)

ECP TypeMid-Year Adjustment

Article III.I.4: Not later than 150th day of each Fiscal Year, Lessor furnishes Mid-Year Projection reflecting actual Bond Debt Service, O&M Expenses, Revenue Requirement, and revenues received. If projection indicates overpayment or underpayment of aggregate Activity Fees at existing rates, Lessor revises Projection and adjusts rates for remainder of Fiscal Year to conform to Mid-Year Projection. This is a mid-year rate adjustment mechanism, NOT a true residual ECP where airport can unilaterally charge airlines to meet bond coverage — rates are adjusted prospectively based on updated projections.

Landing Fee Methodology

MethodologyResidual

Activity Fee calculated as Approved Maximum Landing Weight (in thousand pounds) multiplied by Activity Fee Rate. Rate calculated to generate Revenue Requirement after crediting all terminal rentals, shared use fees, concession/parking revenue, and other revenues.

Terminal Rental Rate

Rate DivisorTotal terminal building net rentable square footage

North Terminal Rental = Square feet of Preferential North Terminal Space × North Terminal Rental Rate. Rate = Cost of North Terminal / Total sq ft of Preferential North Terminal Space leased to Signatory Airlines (excluding member-only clubs). Cost of North Terminal = O&M Expenses + Bond Debt Service allocated to North Terminal Cost Center - Other Available Moneys - International Facilities Use Fees - North Terminal Rental Revenue - North Terminal Authority-Controlled Airline Space Revenues - North Terminal Shared Use Fees.

Common Use & Gate Allocation

Common Use GatesCommon use gates available for non-signatory carriers
Gate AllocationGates allocated by airport on available capacity basis

Additional Bonds Test

Two-part test: (1) Historical: Airport Consultant report projecting Revenues and Revenue Fund balances plus Other Available Moneys and capitalized interest for first 3 full Operating Years after completion of projects funded by new bonds, sufficient to satisfy Rate Covenant. Alternatively, CFO certificate (with independent auditor report) that Net Revenues plus Other Available Moneys for most recent audited Operating Year were not less than 125% of Debt Service on Outstanding Senior Lien Bonds plus proposed new bonds for that period. (2) No Event of Default must exist. (3) Bond Counsel opinion that new issuance won't impair tax-exempt status of Outstanding Bonds. Refunding Bonds exempt if principal and interest do not exceed refunded bonds by more than 20% in any Operating Year.

Rate Covenant

Covenant Ratio1.25x

Authority covenants to fix, charge and collect rates, fees, rentals and charges sufficient to produce Revenues in each Operating Year at least sufficient to provide for (i) payment of Operation and Maintenance Expenses; (ii) together with PFC proceeds deposited with Trustee, amounts needed to make deposits to Bond Fund; and (iii) together with Other Available Moneys and unencumbered Revenue Fund cash balance, amounts needed for deposits to Junior Lien Bond Fund, O&M Reserve Fund, Renewal and Replacement Fund, Discretionary Fund, Airport Development Fund, and an amount not less than 25% of Debt Service on Senior Lien Bonds during such Operating Year.

Flow of Funds

Revenues deposited to Revenue Fund, then transferred in priority order: (i) Monthly to O&M Fund for next month's O&M expenses; (ii) Monthly to Bond Fund (1/6th interest, 1/12th principal); (iii) Restore Bond Reserve Account if deficient; (iv) Monthly to Junior Lien Bond Fund (1/6th interest, 1/12th principal); (v) Swap payments; (vi) Restore Junior Lien Bond Reserve if deficient; (vii) Quarterly to O&M Reserve Fund (1/48th annual O&M) until Operating Reserve Amount on deposit; (viii) Quarterly to Renewal & Replacement Fund ($125K) until $2.5M on deposit; (ix) Quarterly to Airport Discretionary Fund ($87,500); (x) Quarterly to Airport Development Fund (per agreements); (xi) Quarterly to Rebate Fund (Code Section 148(f) compliance).

1.Operation and Maintenance Fund — Monthly, by 25th, sum sufficient for next month's O&M expenses
2.Bond Fund (Senior Lien) — Monthly, 1st day: 1/6th interest next due, 1/12th principal next due
3.Bond Reserve Account — Restore deficiency to required level
4.Junior Lien Bond Fund — Monthly, 1st day: 1/6th interest next due, 1/12th principal next due
5.Swap Payment Account — Amounts due to Swap Provider when due
6.Junior Lien Bond Reserve Account — Restore deficiency to required level
7.O&M Reserve Fund — Quarterly, 1/48th estimated annual O&M until Operating Reserve Amount on deposit
8.Renewal & Replacement Fund — Quarterly, $125K until $2.5M (Replacement Requirement) on deposit
9.Airport Discretionary Fund — Quarterly, $87,500
10.Airport Development Fund — Quarterly, 1/4 of amount calculated per agreements and budgeted rates
11.Rebate Fund — Quarterly/annually per Code Section 148(f) requirements

Source Documents

Official Statements

DTW-2025DEFGH-OS.pdf

Financial Statements

DTW 2024 ACFR.pdf

Airline Use Agreements

DTW-2002-2032-AUA.pdf

Budgets

fy_stub_approved_budget.pdf
FY 2024 Budget Resolution RES 23-157.pdf
DTW-2025-Budget.pdf
FY 2026 Approved Budget.pdf
FY 2025 Approved Budget.pdf

Source: FAA CATS Form 5100-127, DOT T-100 Market Data, Airport Official Statements · Hub classification: FAA CY 2024 Enplanement Data · Prepared by DWU Consulting