MCO’s Short List Includes Five Familiar Names
A short list of candidates have been identified to take the helm of Orlando International (MCO). According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, officials plan to interview five contenders, including Steve Gardner, the airport’s interim executive director. A replacement for outgoing Bill Jennings will reportedly be made by September. The other four candidates reported in the story are: Hardy Acree, director of the Sacramento County Airport System; Kevin Dillon, director of Manchester Airport; Kent George, executive director of the Allegheny County Airport Authority and John Mok, former executive director of the Cleveland Airport System.
PHX Appoints Acting Director
The City of Phoenix has named Danny Murphy, an executive with 23 years experience with the city, as acting aviation director for Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX). Murphy will fill the seat formerly held by David Krietor, who has been promoted to Phoenix deputy city manager.
“Sky Harbor is in great hands,” said Krietor, who began his new position as deputy city manager on June 19. “Danny Murphy has run two of the most complex departments in the City of Phoenix, and has done an outstanding job. I am confident that he will do the same at the Phoenix Aviation Department,” he said. Murphy recently served as acting director of Phoenix’s water services department with over 1,400 employees, an operating budget of $210 million, and a five year capital improvement program of $1.8 billion. Prior to that, he was the chief information officer and director of Phoenix’s information technology department where he managed an operating budget of over $37 million and a capital budget of more than $70 million.
SAT Names New Aviation Director
Officials of San Antonio International (SAT) have named Mark Webb to the permanent aviation director position, according to The San Antonio (TX) Business Journal. Webb had served as interim aviation director since November 2005 after longtime director, Kevin Dolliole left to accept the position as head of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
Webb has worked with the city of San Antonio since 1994, during which time he served as assistant director in the asset management department and later as director of the contract services department in 2004.
New Airport Manager Named for DCA
The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) have approved the selection of J. Paul Malandrino, Jr. to the position of vice president and airport manager of Reagan National Airport (DCA).
“Paul is no stranger to the Airports Authority, having served as the manager of airport operations of Dulles International before his recent service with the Transportation Security Administration,” says James E. Bennett, president and CEO of MWAA.
ARN Publishes Nomination Forms for Best Concessions Poll
Airport Revenue News (ARN) has published the nomination forms for the 2007 Best Concessions competition in its July issue. The forms are designed for airport managers to nominate their favorite concessionaires and for concessionaires to nominate their favorite airport programs.
All nominees will be published in the December/January issue of ARN. All submissions must be received by Friday, August 4, 2006.
ORD & MDW to Offer Free Power Outlets
Beginning in September, and by the end of January, 21 workstations with electric outlets will be installed at Chicago-O’Hare International (ORD), and eight at Midway Airport (MDW).
That’s in answer to a problem that began last winter when wireless accessibility debuted for $6.95 per day, with some exceptions, at Chicago-O’Hare International (ORD) and Midway (MDW). Travelers who have their own wireless memberships can make any one of 10 connections free of charge by going through a ‘neutral host system’ operated by Concourse Development LLC.
While the airports’ wi-fi deal gave the city a minimum annual guarantee of $1 million, Chicago Department of Aviation officials began to see it’s potential was limited by the same problem many other airports had reported. Travelers using cell phones and PDAs also need to recharge their batteries, or to plug in their laptop computers to conserve battery power for their flight, and like most airports offering wireless, ORD and MDW didn’t have enough plugs to meet demand.
“We have maintenance outlets throughout the airport used mainly for vacuuming and cleaning. But those are the only outlets available. So we have travelers sitting on the floor, plugging in and recharging,” said Chicago Aviation Commissioner Nuria Fernandez in a recent story in The Chicago Sun Times. The one existing recharging work station at ORD in T-1 at United Airlines’ gate B-6 puts it ahead of many airports, but the planned stations will allow it to achieve the promise of its wi-fi contract.
According to Sun Times, the stations will have counters and stools with five duplex AC outlets that can be used simultaneously. There will also be space reserved for passengers with disabilities. Use of the outlets will be free.
“There’s limited space available,” Fernandez said of the airports. “We have more concessions that are going in. Those are revenue-generating, so we have to work with the airlines to identify space where we can put these re-charging stations.”
In similar news, the Chicago Department of Aviation recently announced the opening of cell phone parking lots at ORD and MDW for motorists waiting to meet arriving passengers. Both lots officially opened on Monday, June 5, and are designed to eliminate the need for circling the airport repeatedly if an arriving party is later than expected, ultimately resulting in less roadway traffic and congestion, less air pollution and increased auto fuel savings.
Austin’s Local Pizzeria Debuts at AUS
In mid-June a grand opening was held at Austin-Bergstrom International (AUS) for the first airport location of local restaurant, Mangia, named ‘independent pizzeria of 2005’ by Pizza Today magazine. The restaurant, operated by Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services (Delaware North), will be Mangia’s first location to offer bacon and egg or apple cinnamon breakfast pizza.
“The breakfast pizza is doing great,” says Terry Mahlum, district manager with Delaware North. “We created those items with Mangia, so the restaurant will open at 5:00 a.m. like all the other breakfast locations. The lunch and dinner menu has three stuffed pie options and two regular pizza options, but more choices could be added if there’s a demand.”
Mahlum says the concept is expected to bring in revenues of over $1 million at the end of the first year.
Mangia, which serves Chicago style stuffed pizza, was founded in Austin in 1988 by Jeff Sayers, a government worker who had trained as an OSHA inspector in the windy city. The concept caters to both arriving as well as departing passengers. The half-baked frozen pizza product can be taken home, and the hot ‘to-go’ slices are packaged in triangle boxes for in-flight ease, says Mahlum. Mangia also serves beer, wine and soft drinks.
PHX Adds Traffic Monitoring to Rental Car Center
A new traffic information system has been installed in the new Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX) rental car center to assist customers in finding the best route to their destinations.
Four 40-inch video monitors located throughout the customer service level of the center show up-to-date travel times on Phoenix-area freeways, and according to Julie Rodriguez, public information officer at PHX, it is the first such operation in the country.
Each display shows a map of major freeways with current travel times to various sites around Phoenix and surrounding cities, and the information is updated every three minutes. In addition, the system alerts drivers to accidents or other major traffic incidents between the rental center and key destinations.
The project is part of a regional traveler information program led by AZTech–a partnership of state, county and municipal transportation agencies and private companies in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
RFPs on the Street
Port of Oakland is seeking an AIRPORT OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR, AIRSIDE
(starting salary $6,562 per month)
Incumbents supervise and coordinate the activities of an assigned shift of subordinate personnel engaged in airside operational, safety and security functions on a 24 hour basis. Incumbents enforce all applicable federal, state, and local safety and security rules, regulations, and procedures and represents airport management after normal working hours. The minimum requirements would include An Associates degree from an accredited college with coursework in aviation plus three years experience as an Airport Operations Specialist, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Must possess a valid CA Class C driver’s license.
Call (510) 627-1142 or www.portofoakland.com for an application packet. Resumes alone are not sufficient. Recruitment closes July 7, 2006 AA/EOE/M/F/H
O’Hare Seeks Food & Retail Operators
The City of Chicago Department of Aviation is seeking experienced operators to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) process to operate in Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Opportunities will include: Branded Hamburger/Quick-Serve Food and Duty Free; and Specialty Retail concepts.
Issue date for Specialty Retail will be on or about June 5, 2006
Interested parties may complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) at the Airport’s website www.flychicago.com, which can be found at the “Concessions Opportunities” link under the “Doing Business” tab. On the Web site, you may obtain a copy of the EOI, and/or complete an on-line form to immediately submit your EOI.
You may also submit pertinent information via facsimile to Unison-MAXIMUS Retail Management at 773/894-3910. If you have any questions, please contact Unison-MAXIMUS at 773/894-3900.
SMF Seeking Sr. Economic Specialist
Come join the properties and business development team at the fastest growing major airport in California, Sacramento International (SMF), as it embarks on an aggressive capital improvement program that will redefine air travel in Northern California. Dynamic candidates with an entrepreneurial spirit are sought to join the Properties and Business Development team at the Sacramento County Airport System.
Senior Airport Economic Development Specialist
$5,575.00 – $6,776.00 per/ mo + Excellent Benefits
Airport Economic Development Specialist
$5,585.42 – $6,159.58 per/mo + Excellent benefits
Incumbents conduct research, statistical analyses, and economic feasibility studies relating to existing and new airport services, including airline passenger, air freight, on-airport facility and business development and airport ground transportation services; performs property and tenant management activities including the negotiation of airport leases and agreements, development of rates and charges schedules, development of the lease documents and monitoring the implementation of lease terms; and performs a wide variety of tasks involving air trade development programs, multimedia advertising campaigns and other marketing programs to foster the expansion of aviation services and facilities for Sacramento County-operated airports
Please see job announcement and apply-on-line at: www.saccountyjobs.net
Application and Info:
Sac. County Employment Office
609 9th St, Sac, CA 95814
Ph: (916) 874-5593
1st Cut-Off Date:
5:00p.m. on 6/2/06
2nd Cut-Off Date:
5:00p.m. on 8/18/06
EOE
