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Y E A R I N R E V I E W:
CONGRATULATIONS TO AXN’S 2021 DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR!
LOOKING BACK AT A PANDEMIC YEAR
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3 Letter From the Editor-in-Chief 4 Data Check
More and more, the environmental impact of travel is a topic of discussion. Travelers in a recent study are hesitant to return to their old flying ways, but sustainable changes could change their minds.
12 Gale’s FLL Tenure
Mark Gale, AXN’s director of the year in the large airports category, has overseen an overhaul of facilities at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL), his “second act” after retiring from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
16 Good Guy Gale
Mark Gale’s colleagues and peers have a lot to say about him, but it all boils down to his good nature, calming demeanor and friendly reception toward everyone he meets.
20 New Directions
Rebecca Hupp is AXN’s director of the year in the medium airports category because of her impact on Boise Airport and her peers, and her fresh ideas leading her team forward.
24 Hupp to the Task
Friends and colleagues alike can’t say enough about Rebecca Hupp’s hands-on leadership style and ability to tackle challenges.
28 Community Comes First
5 Latest Buzz
Rick Tucker, AXN’s director of the year in the small airports category, may run the Huntsville International Airport, but the impact of his work in aviation can be felt throughout his community, state and nation.
Two Montana airports were outgrowing their facilities before the pandemic, and now that the effects of the global shutdown are ebbing, passenger numbers are nearing their previous rates and it’s time to expand.
32 Team Tucker
8 Director’s Chair
Rick Tucker’s colleagues say he works tirelessly in support of his airport and community but is the last to take credit for success.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is renovating its three major airports with the goal of creating world-class facilities. Director of Aviation Huntley Lawrence talks capital projects, traffic trends and customer service.
36 New Year, New Industry?
46 Advertising Index 47 Before You Take Off
The past two years have been tumultuous, to say the least, but airport officials and concessions professionals alike may have reasons to be optimistic as travel continues to bounce back in 2022.
41 Year In Review
Few anticipated the highs and lows 2021 would bring, but looking back, the airport and concessions industries managed to continue growing and adapting through the everchanging world.
Sharing a home base with nationally known health and medical facility St. Jude Children’s Hospital sparked a need for a dedicated space for travelers moving through Memphis International on their way to treatment.
A X N E W S N O V E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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Left: Laurie Noyes of Tampa International Airport is optimistic about the future of the industry, noting that the pandemic required the implementation of new technology and improved efficiencies, which will ultimately make the industry stronger.
Left: Concessions programs across the country (Denver International Airport pictured) are seeing positive growth signs but are stymied by labor shortages and other challenges.
(photo provided courtesy of Denver International Airport)
BY SALLY KRAL
It’s been an undeniably difficult two years for the airport industry, and with no end in sight it can be difficult to be hopeful about what 2022 might have in store. Still, many airport professionals are bolstered by 2021’s positive traffic trends and other encouraging signs of a rebound. “I’m incredibly optimistic,” says Laurie Noyes, vice president of concessions and commercial parking for Tampa International Airport (TPA). “Between a resumption of international travel, new technology and improved efficiencies, I think the industry will come back smarter and stronger.” Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), feels similarly, noting that CVG expects to end the year serving 65-70 percent of 2019 passenger volumes. “Most of that has been leisure travel, but I’m optimistic that passenger travel in all forms will begin to return in earnest in 2022,” she says. “As the industry stabilizes, I’m hopeful airport and industry leaders can continue to look to the future as opposed to being ‘heads down’ and focused on survival.” But some in the industry see things a little bit differently. “The next year will see improvement but remain very challenging,” says Andrew Weddig, the
Left: Andrew Weddig, executive director for the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association, says that without continued rent relief from airports, concessions operators are unlikely to see recovery in 2022.
newly appointed executive director for the Airport Restaurant & Retail Association (ARRA). “Just as many others did in the aviation industry, concessionaires took on significant debt during the pandemic and will not be recovered until that debt is paid off and, of course, that can’t happen until there is positive cash flow. From my point of view, 2022 looks less like recovery and more like another year of survival.” Indeed, even those with a more optimistic outlook recognize that there’s still a long road ahead. “We’ve learned a lot from the pandemic, but pandemicrelated disruptions will not end in 2022,” says Ingrid Hairston, vice president of properties and business development for Birmingham Airport Authority, operator of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), and outgoing chair of the commercial management committee for Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA). And the industry will have no choice but to confront these obstacles head-on. “We need to be ready to tackle big challenges around issues such as advanced air mobility, workforce and sustainability,” CVG’s McGraw says. “As I often say, there is no shortage of good and challenging issues on which to focus.”
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 / V19 N238