Port of Benton Suspended Richland Airport Rental Policy

The commission froze lease rates at current levels through 2027 to encourage private investment at the local facility.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Air Travel

Port of Benton Suspended Richland Airport Rental Policy

Live Poll

Should local government entities prioritize low rental costs to encourage business growth in your community?

The Port of Benton Commission voted unanimously to suspend a 2022 rental policy that had previously caused some airport lease rates to quadruple. The decision aims to revitalize private investment and hangar construction at Richland Airport.

Why it matters

The commission determined the prior policy alienated tenants and halted development, prompting a shift toward encouraging business growth over revenue maximization. This move seeks to stabilize the environment for the nearly 100 current airport tenants.

Richland Airport supports 682 local jobs and facilitates approximately 4,000 annual medical flights by the Life Flight Network. Lease rates are now locked through 2027 to provide stability for nearly 100 airport tenants.

The players

Port of Benton Commission

This local governing body manages port facilities and oversees economic development initiatives across the region.

Diahann Howard

The Executive Director of the Port of Benton who was suspended from her position in January 2026.

Life Flight Network

This emergency medical services provider conducts approximately 4,000 medical flights at the airport annually.

Washington Department of Transportation

This state agency is responsible for conducting the rate study that will inform future airport rental rules.

The details

The commission moved to scrap the controversial 2022 policy at their regular business meeting on October 14, 2026. Future rental structures will be informed by a comprehensive rate study conducted by the Washington Department of Transportation.

No new hangars have been built at Richland Airport since 2018.
The original rental policy was adopted by the Port of Benton in 2022.
Executive Director Diahann Howard was suspended in January 2026.
Commissioners voted to suspend the rental policy on October 14, 2026.
Airport lease rates will remain frozen at current levels through 2027.

Travel Outlook

The suspension of the local policy aligns with regional efforts to standardize airport leasing through the Washington Department of Transportation rate study. This shift moves the port away from autonomous fee-setting and toward state-backed economic benchmarks.

Airport tenants will benefit from predictable overhead costs with lease rates frozen at current levels through 2027. Businesses and pilots operating out of the facility can now plan for potential hangar investments without the risk of sudden, large-scale rent hikes.

The takeaway

Freezing lease rates helps foster a more stable climate for private infrastructure investment at public facilities. Tenants should use this period of rate predictability to assess their long-term operational needs at the airport.