CLEARPORT helps brands launch in Airports. With over 1.1 Billion passengers traveling this year, the opportunity is immense. We clear the path to doing business with airport authorities, developers, and concessionaires.
RFP Response
We've won and awarded tons of RFP's in the space. We know what a winning proposal looks like.
Direct Deal
Some of the best deals aren't public deals. We help you find and close them.
M&A
We help identify and structure asset and stock buyout opportunities
Partnerships
We help introduce nice people and facilitate Joint Ventures, Franchise, and ACDBE Partnership agreements for success
If your brand has been thinking about getting into the airport space, but you don’t know how to execute on the opportunity, that’s what CLEARPORT does. and the opportunity is big. Jumbo-jet big. It’s also complex, archaic, relationship-driven, and opaque. Here are the highlights:
1. How do Airports buy services and select concepts?
The most common method for enterprises to win airport business is through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process. Keep in mind, almost all airports are governed by a state, municipal, or federal entity, and they are required to have open, transparent bidding processes in order to protect the taxpayer. That said, all institutions have needs that are not necessarily best suited for a complex and time-consuming process. In these cases, different departments of the airport will have their own procurement processes, usually capped at a certain dollar amount. We call these Direct Deal procurements.
2. Who’s doing the selecting?
Airport concession business is usually broken down into a number of parties
- AIRPORT AUTHORITY: OWNS THE AIRPORT AND CONTRACTS WITH A DEVELOPER, PRIME CONCESSIONAIRE, OR DIRECTLY WITH OPERATORS TO CREATE A CONCESSIONS PROGRAM.
- DEVELOPER: LEASES CONCESSIONS AREA FROM THE AUTHORITY AND THEN SUBLEASES SPACE TO CONCESSIONAIRES. IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING SELECTING TENANTS, MANAGING THE DEMISED PROPERTY, ENSURING COMPLIANCE, AND MARKETING THE PROGRAM.
- OPERATOR: MAY OR MAY NOT OWN THE BRAND BUT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OWNING AND OPERATING INDIVIDUAL CONCESSIONS UNITS. WHEN YOU SEE A FAMILIAR RESTAURANT IN THE AIRPORT, IT’S USUALLY OWNED AND MANAGED BY AN OPERATOR WHO HAS A FRANCHISING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BRAND, NOT THE BRAND ITSELF
- BRAND: THE NAME YOU SEE AND THE MENU AND PRODUCTS YOU’RE USED TO. USUALLY A PARTNERSHIP OR LICENSING / FRANCHISE AGREEMENT WITH AN OPERATOR.
- ACDBE/DBE/MBE PARTNER: THESE ARE FEDERAL (AND SOMETIMES STATE LEVEL) CLASSIFICATIONS THAT ENCOURAGE MINORITY, WOMAN, AND VETERAN OWNED BUSINESSES TO PARTNER WITH LARGER OPERATORS TO GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR OF THE AIRPORT SPACE. MANY AIRPORTS HAVE SPECIFIC TARGETS FOR PARTICIPATION AND ARE INCENTIVIZED TO SELECT BIDDERS WITH ADEQUATE LEVELS OF PARTICIPATION
3. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY BUSINESS WILL SUCCEED?
Great question. Passenger volumes are massive, but success isn’t automatic. Airports are not traditional retail environments—travelers aren’t there to shop or dine; they’re there to fly.
Questions to ask:
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Is your product familiar to passengers, or will it require education?
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Can you capture attention in the limited time before flights?
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Who is your ideal passenger — budget leisure, luxury traveler, or frequent business flyer?
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How well does your offering adapt to airport constraints (speed of service, packaging, security rules, 24/7 hours)?
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Is your location in the terminal favorable (high-traffic concourse vs. quiet gate, landslide vs. airside, food court vs. inline, etc. )?
Clearport helps clients evaluate fit, forecast sales, and build strategies that maximize success.
4. WHAT AIRPORTS HAVE OPEN OPPORTUNITIES?
Opportunities rotate constantly — airports issue new bids every quarter across the U.S. Some cover food & beverage, others retail, services, tech pilots, or even construction packages.
Clearport tracks upcoming RFPs and direct deal opportunities nationwide.
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5. HOW CLEARPORT HELPS YOU WIN
This is where we add the “why us” layer:
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Opportunity Radar: We monitor airport authorities, concessions programs, and procurement sites daily so you don’t have to.
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Market Fit Analysis: We assess whether your brand, concept, or technology makes sense in the airport environment.
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RFP Strategy & Proposal Support: From compliance requirements to narrative writing, we increase your chance of winning.
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ACDBE/DBE Partnerships: We structure relationships with certified partners that strengthen bids and meet participation goals.
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Introductions & Relationships: Clearport opens doors with developers, operators, and airport executives.
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Full Lifecycle Support: From initial concept to ribbon-cutting, we guide you every step of the way.
6. READY TO TAKE OFF?
Breaking into the airport space is possible — but you need a guide who knows the players, processes, and pitfalls. That’s what Clearport does.
