US airports continue to change rapidly as new technologies affect both landside and airside operations, airports seek to tap new revenue sources and managers hope to control costs by looking at energy alternatives.

Delta Air Lines’s plan to remove 66 SkyWest Bombardier CRJ200s from service and close its Comair subsidiary has renewed speculation about the fate of smaller and older jets in an age of high fuel prices that favors larger and newer aircraft.

The airline business remains a risky one in the second decade of the 21st Century. Aircraft maintenance reflects the traffic and financial risks of the industry it supports, with added risks distinctive to the aftermarket.