Devices will relay real-time location to air traffic control and aircraft Richmond International Airport (RIC) has received grant funding to install Vehicle Movement Area Transponders, or VMATs, on approximately 60 airport ground vehicles. During the monthly meeting of the Capital Region Airport Commission, the Commission authorized the execution of the grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “Safety is a top priority throughout the airport, but especially on the airfield where aircraft and ground vehicles are moving in the same areas,” said Perry Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport. “Thanks to this grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration, airport-owned vehicles that regularly access the airfield will be outfitted with a transponder, which increases their visibility and helps to prevent runway incursions.” Transponders have already been installed on 38 Commission-owned vehicles. The $205,200 FAA grant will provide funding to purchase and install 60 news transponders. “Vehicle Movement Area Transmitters (VMATs) help prevent dangerous runway incidents and by accelerating the deployment of this technology, we’re closing critical visibility gaps on our nation’s runways and taxiways,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a news release. “This initiative is yet another example of our commitment to proactive safety improvements and strong collaboration across the aviation community.” Installing transponders on ground vehicles will make their location visible to air traffic control and aircraft through the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which is the same system used to track aircraft positions in real time. Inside the terminal last month, 464,185 passengers visited RIC, marking the second-busiest month in airport history after July 2025 (-0.6%). For calendar year-to-date, passenger volume continues to rise by 1.3% year over year. United and JetBlue Airways were RIC’s fastest growing airlines in July, reporting passenger gains of 21.1% and 19.2%, respectively. In January 2027, Breeze Airways will launch service to Cancún (CUN), Mexico. Next March, Southwest Airlines will be updating its service to add a second daily flight to Nashville, begin new service to Tampa, and pause service to Denver. Total cargo handled in July decreased by 5.2% compared to a year prior to 19.8 million pounds. Aircraft operations fell to 9,385, down by 5.8% or 583 versus July 2025. For more info, visit monthly statistics on the web. The monthly financial report for July showed airport revenues outperformed the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget by $807,000 or 12.3% for a total of $7.4 million, according to preliminary, unaudited data. Favorable timing of $649,000 in concession income was the primary factor. Monthly operating expenses were less than budget by approximately $129,000 or 3.2%. This was driven by favorability in professional services, maintenance expenses, and utilities which was partially offset by unfavorable timing of personnel expenses and supply purchases. In other business matters, the Commission reviewed and approved resolutions that support the airport’s strategic priorities, including authorizing the airport CEO to: Execute the construction agreement for the Garage Lighting Replacement 3-4 with MW Co., LLC, DBA National Maintenance Services (NLMS) of Louisville, KY to replace existing lighting and lighted signage in the parking garages with new LED fixtures. The contract award totals $2.16 million and will be fully Commission funded.Execute two grants from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for $119,000 and $250,000, respectively, for the planning, design, and bidding services for pavement reconstruction of identified portions of apron areas west of the passenger concourses. Aprons are where planes park, board, or unload. 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, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or YouTube.

John B. Rutledge honored for more than 20 years of airport leadership During the 2026 Virginia Aviation Awards ceremony, Richmond International Airport’s (RIC) Chief Operating Officer John B. Rutledge was recognized as the Airport Executive of the Year. “It’s always exciting to see well-deserved recognition, and John Rutledge is the quiet force helping Richmond International Airport prioritize modernization and expansion to provide a world-class passenger experience,” Perry J. Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport. “A smooth journey from ticketing to touchdown is easy to take for granted, but John is always behind the scenes guiding our team as we make RIC the region’s preferred gateway to the world.” “Unlike the roads we travel, the sky holds no historical markers. There are no signs to tell us who has passed this way before...” said Greg Campbell, DOAV director, in his remarks to attendees. “The Commonwealth’s aviation legacy lives on through the stories we tell of the enterprising individuals who built this industry.” For the past two decades, Rutledge has served as a member of RIC’s leadership, first as the director of planning and engineering, then as chief operating officer (COO). He oversees day-to-day airport operations, planning, capital development, and public safety functions. His extensive expertise in engineering and financial stewardship combined with a wealth of industry experience have helped RIC navigate periods of substantial growth and become an economic engine in the Richmond region. Outside of the office, his focus is on strengthening his faith and spending time with family. Rutledge was recognized alongside other 2026 award winners, including: Person of the Year – Delegate Karrie Delaney, Virginia House of Delegates, 9th DistrictEducator of the Year – Cindy Watson, Forest Middle School in Bedford County, Va.Lifetime Achievement Award – Mike Mickel, Chesterfield County, Va.Lifetime Achievement Award – Michael Cooper, Loudon County, Va. 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, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or YouTube.

Ribbon cutting planned for first public art installation Hummingbirds may be seasonal in Virginia, but three of these tiny travelers are making a permanent home at Richmond International Airport (RIC) as part of a new art installation — TRAVEL COMPANIONS. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Nearly two years in the making, this colorful, engaging sculpture created by artist Matthew Mazzotta will serve as the centerpiece in the newly renovated center core plaza, a greenspace and parking area located between the North and South Parking Garages. “We are excited to welcome our first public art installation, TRAVEL COMPANIONS, to Richmond International Airport,” said Perry J. Miller, Ph.D., A.A.E., I.A.P., president and CEO of Richmond International Airport. “As we enter a period of transformation that will change the face of the airport, this striking artwork featuring the state tree and flower of Virginia will greet passengers and serve as a bright reminder that you’ve arrived at RIC.” As part of its public art plan, the Capital Region Airport Commission, which owns and operates the airport, requested proposals for a large-scale piece of outdoor artwork with the facilitation of its public art consultant, Designing Local. Mazzotta’s piece was selected by an evaluation committee of commission staff, local art professionals, and community representatives with a contract awarded in February 2025 at a total project cost of $400,000. The sculpture was recently installed. Renowned in the public art community, Mazzotta is the artist behind other celebrated projects, including HOME, a giant pink flamingo at Tampa International Airport (TPA), and RISE, a massive, purple-striped jellyfish at San Diego International Airport (SAN). “We worked closely with Matthew [Mazzotta] and our public art consultant, Designing Local, providing feedback, refining our vision to capture Virginia, and finalizing the plans for the beautiful sculpture you see today,” said Rev. Tyrone Nelson, vice chair of the Capital Region Airport Commission. “I’m thrilled to know that the inviting space we dreamed of creating has come to fruition and is available for our community to enjoy.” The 24-foot TRAVEL COMPANIONS sculpture featuring the state tree of Virginia — a flowering dogwood — and three hummingbirds draws parallels between the dogwood and the airport as travel hubs and the hummingbirds and passengers as travelers journeying to their next destination. Mazzotta explained that the radiant colors are inspired by the diverse species and local ecology of Virginia and are a metaphor for the region’s vibrant multicultural community. “TRAVEL COMPANIONS is a celebration of nature, culture, and diversity, reflecting the rich ecological and social tapestry of Virginia,” said Matthew Mazzotta, the creator of TRAVEL COMPANIONS. “These winged travelers often share the very same flight paths we do, serving as a beautiful reminder of our coexistence within a shared world.” To celebrate the airport’s inaugural art installation before its arrival, RIC asked social media fans to suggest names for the birds that fans later voted on. They selected Henry, after Patrick Henry, who delivered the famous revolutionary war era "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech at St. John's Church; Hollywood, after the historic cemetery overlooking the James River; and Hummie Mae, a variation of the runner-up name, Hammie Mae, for a pygmy hippopotamus born at the Metro Richmond Zoo. 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, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, or YouTube.