The Detroit Metropolitan Airport plans to install up to 22 gaming machines to lift revenue amid falling flight traffic.
Airport officials said last week they would install up to 22 lottery and Keno machines in order to generate roughly $300,000 annually for the airport and between $5 million and $10 million for Michigan, according to local reports.
The airport, which is facing revenue declines in a variety of areas, also plans to cut 109 positions as part of its $264.5 million 2010 budget, which kicks in Oct. 1. The Wayne County Airport Authority had projected a $6 million deficit in 2010, stemming largely from fewer flights.
Passenger traffic is down 8%, according to a report in Crain’s Detroit Business. “If management does not respond by reducing costs, charges to the airlines would increase and airlines will start looking elsewhere to bring service or add service,” Crain’s quoted airport spokesman Michael Conway as saying.
The airport recently announced a nearly $10 million deal making Pepsi the official beverage of the airport.
