(a) Departmental Operation.

(1) In operating an airport, air navigation facility, or avigation easement owned or controlled by the state, the department may enter into contracts, leases and other arrangements for a term not exceeding fifty (50) years with any persons:

(A) Granting the privilege of using or improving the airports or air navigation facility or any portion or facility of the airports or air navigation facility or space in the airports or air navigation facility for commercial purposes;

(B) Conferring the privilege of supplying goods, commodities, things, services, or facilities at such airport or air navigation facility; or

(C) Making available services to be furnished by the department or its agents at such airport or air navigation facility.

(2) In each case, the department may establish the terms and conditions and fix the charges, rentals or fees for the privileges or services, which shall be reasonable and uniform for the same class of privilege or service and shall be established with the due regard to the property and improvements used and the expenses of operation to the state; provided, that in no case shall the public be deprived of its rightful, equal and uniform use of the airport, air navigation facility, avigation easement or portion or facility of the airport or avigation easement.

(b) Other Operation. The department may by contract, lease or other arrangement, upon a consideration fixed by it, grant to any qualified person for a term not to exceed fifty (50) years the privilege of operating, as agent of the state or otherwise, any airport owned or controlled by the state; provided, that no person shall be granted any authority to operate the airport other than as a public airport or to enter into any contracts, leases, or other arrangements in connection with the operation of the airport that the department might not have undertaken under subsection (a).

(c) Liens. To enforce the payment of any charges for repairs to, or improvements, or storage or care of, any personal property made or furnished by the department or its agents in connection with the operation of an airport or air navigation facility owned or operated by the state, the state shall have liens on the property, which shall be enforceable by the department as provided by law.