(1) In operating an airport or air navigation facility owned, leased or controlled by a municipality, such municipality may, except as may be limited by the terms and conditions of any grant, loan or agreement pursuant to Section 61-5-15, 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 such airport or air navigation facility or any portion or facility thereof, or space therein for commercial purposes; or

(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 municipality or its agents at such airport or air navigation facility.

In each case the municipality 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 due regard to the property and improvements used and the expenses of operation to the municipality.

(2) Except as may be limited by the terms and conditions of any grant, loan or agreement pursuant to Section 61-5-15, a municipality 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 municipality or otherwise, any airport owned or controlled by the municipality. However, no person shall be granted any authority to operate an 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 which the municipality might not have undertaken under subsection (1) of this section.

(3) All contracts, leases and other arrangements entered into pursuant to this section are deemed to serve a public and governmental purpose as a matter of public necessity; therefore, all such contracts, leases and other arrangements, and all structures, improvements and other facilities erected, installed, constructed or located in connection therewith on an airport or air navigation facility owned or controlled by a municipality, or any portion or facility thereof or space therein, shall be free and exempt from all state, county and municipal ad valorem taxes on real property and personal property for so long as may otherwise be lawful, and the charges, rentals and fees received by a municipality in connection with such contracts, leases and other arrangements shall be deemed to be in lieu of said taxes.