Two competing groups now claim to be the legal governing body of Nashville International Airport (BNA), setting up a high‑stakes governance fight that could shape the airport’s operations and the broader regional economy.
What happened and who claims control
A state law enacted on July 1 transferred control of major Tennessee airports to top state leaders — Gov. Bill Lee, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton — and prompted the appointment of a six‑member board that the airport’s full‑time staff and CEO, Doug Kreulen, recognize as the authority.
In response, city officials have assembled a separate seven‑member board appointed by current and former Nashville mayors. Both groups call themselves the Metro Nashville Airport Authority and say they are the rightful governing body.
Immediate actions and scheduled meetings
Each faction has scheduled meetings to make decisions about the airport. The state‑appointed board has the backing of the airport CEO and staff. Metro officials said the airport denied their board’s request to use an airport boardroom for a planned July 15 meeting; the city’s board said it will meet at a downtown municipal office building as planned.
- July 1: State law enacted transferring control of major airports.
- July 15: Both rival groups plan to meet and make decisions.
- July 27: FAA deadline to weigh in on which board it will recognize.
Federal role and competing legal claims
City officials argue that federal law supersedes the state statute and that the mayoral‑appointed board is the only legal airport authority. Airport management and the state‑appointed group counter that the new law is “presumptively constitutional” and that airport staff will recognize the board appointed under that law.
“As a matter of federal law, what you see from this state-appointed board, none of it happened,”
Metro Nashville representative Kirk Shaffer said, adding that the Federal Aviation Administration had continued to recognize the Metro board at the time he spoke.
The airport has not confirmed FAA recognition of either board. The FAA has set a July 27 deadline to determine which group it will recognize; no federal court or agency had yet enjoined the state’s actions when the competing meetings were announced.
Stakes for Nashville and the region
BNA generates roughly $14 billion a year for the regional economy, making governance questions more than a matter of municipal authority — they carry potential consequences for operations, contracts, capital projects and regional planning tied to the airport.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| State law enacted | July 1 |
| Competing meetings | July 15 |
| FAA decision deadline | July 27 |
| Economic impact | $14 billion annually (regional) |
The disagreement also touches on precedent for how airport authorities are governed across Tennessee. Chattanooga’s airport authority joined Metro Nashville in contesting the state legislation, arguing it violated a federal act, according to city officials.
For now, airport staff and CEO Kreulen recognize the state‑appointed board and have declined Metro’s request to use airport facilities for the city’s meeting. Metro leaders maintain federal law supports their authority and expect federal officials to settle the matter.
The FAA’s forthcoming determination, and any legal challenges that follow, will determine which board can authorize contracts, oversee long‑range projects and make personnel decisions at one of the region’s most critical economic engines. Local travelers, businesses and workers will be watching the outcome closely as the dispute heads toward federal review.
