Press Release|Public Finance
KBRA Assigns Rating of A+ to Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Airport Revenue Bonds, Series 2026A (AMT) and Series 2026B (Non-AMT); Affirms Rating for Parity Bonds
4 Aug 2026 | New York
KBRA assigns a long-term rating of A+ to the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Airport Revenue Bonds, Series 2026A (AMT) and Airport Revenue Bonds, Series 2026B (Non-AMT). KBRA additionally affirms the long-term rating of A+ for the Authority's outstanding Airport Revenue Bonds. The rating Outlook is Stable.
Key Credit Considerations
Credit Positives
- Enplanement growth is buttressed by a growing air trade area economy and limited competition.
- Sound financial performance, characterized by increasing non-airline revenue generation and healthy liquidity.
- Historically limited use of debt as a source of capital funding.
Credit Challenge
- Expected, significant increase in leverage as borrowing to fund MoreRNO occurs over multiple fiscal years
- Execution and completion risks associated with implementing a multi-year, transformational CIP
- RNO’s still small enplanement base, coupled with moderate airline concentration and limited geographic reach.
Rating Sensitivities
For Upgrade
- Strengthening operating margins, coupled with DSC that consistently exceeds required minimums.
- Maintenance of competitive airline costs that outperform projections.
For Downgrade
- Issuance of additional debt without a commensurate rise in resources available for repayment.
- Failure to implement the MoreRNO Program on-time and generally within budget, resulting in financial stress.
- While not expected, a prolonged period of depressed passenger traffic resulting from an exogenous shock or structural shift in the airline industry.
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