Sky Harbour breaks ground on a PWK campus closed to transient traffic

As aircraft ownership continues to grow in major metropolitan areas, hangar availability has increasingly become a meaningful constraint. Chicago Executive Airport's (PWK) newest expansion project addresses this issue with a novel solution. Sky Harbour Group broke ground in mid-September on a 16-acre aviation campus built around the company's Home Base Operator model (HBO). The HBO model is different from traditional FBOs because it is closed to transient traffic and instead focuses on owners who permanently base aircraft at the airport. According to Aviation Week, the first phase of development will have four private hangars that range from 18,000 to 37,000 sq. ft. The hangars will have adjoining suites, offices and parking as well as be supported by full-line service and fueling. The project is one of the largest private infrastructure investments in the airport's history according to Sky Harbour Group, and is expected to open in early 2028. Hangar availability continues to be a major infrastructure challenge in the U.S. That scarcity gives projects like this growing importance for owners and operators looking for long-term stability. FBOs are acutely aware of the benefits of aircraft that permanently reside at an airport; generating recurring revenue through hangar leases, maintenance activity, staffing and fuel purchases. With expansions taking on significant importance to address the market, maximizing revenue is the natural strategy to follow. Why it matters The most interesting aspect of the project is that it excludes transient traffic entirely. Sky Harbour's model treats aircraft basing as a service rather than simply a lease, offering owners dedicated infrastructure designed around permanently based aircraft. As hangar space remains constrained at major airports, that approach could become an increasingly attractive way for airports and developers to differentiate themselves. Worth watching is HBO's effect on transient aircraft choosing PWK that still are in need of a sheltered place to park.