After a decade under Signature Aviation operation, the lone FBO at Chicago-area Waukegan National Airport (KUGN) will change hands on Oct. 1, 2026. Signature told AIN that it had expressed its interest in continuing to operate the FBO and making additional investments in the location, but with the ending of the chain’s lease, the Waukegan Port District—which manages KUGN—will assume control of the facility and rebrand it as North Shore Jet Center.
"The Board determined that direct operation will provide greater control over the quality of aeronautical services, future planning, and generate revenues that can be reinvested in the airport and potentially reduce or moderate rates and charges to airport users, support investment in improved general aviation facilities, ensure reasonable pricing and service levels, and preserve the district’s flexibility to respond to future changes in aviation," airport director Skip Goss told AIN, describing it as a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity. "Entering into another long-term ground lease with a private FBO would surrender these public benefits for another 20 to 25 years."
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