"Airport manager touts regional airport advantages"

Thursday, June 19, 2003

Airport manager touts Montgomery advantages
By Joel P. Smith 
The Eufaula (AL) Tribune


Montgomery Airport Authority executive di-rector Phil B. Perry recommends
Eufaulians fly from Montgomery.
  
Since Sept.11, 2001, the trend is business travelers are shunning Atlanta
and JFK (New York) airports and gravitating to regional airports like
Montgomery Regional Airport, he told the Eufaula Rotary Club June 5.

The aviation industry has been in a decline for several years, but since
9/11 the industry has suffered the most, he said.

Montgomery Regional Airport, an owner-operated airport, serves an area that
extends to the Georgia line, almost to Mississippi, to Dothan in the south
and to Bir-mingham, says Perry. The regional airport is located in "a safe,
connected en-vironment."

Perry's job is to operate the airport at a profit, to "make money for the
stockholders." The airport functions like a business with tenants. "Parking
provides over $1 million a year, one-third of the revenue."

In 1972 the municipal corporation to operate and manage the airport was
organized when the nine-member Montgomery City Council ap-pointed nine
members to the board. No tax money was provided; money to operate is
generated at the airport.

Ten percent of the ticket sales goes into a trust; it goes back to the
airport when its infra-structure needs improvements. The board also applies
for grants.

Perry says three years ago the airport was reno-vated and is in good shape,
but it does not have a modern look. 

Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions and Congressmen Terry Everett and
Hilliard ac-quired $8 million in grant money to improve the Montgomery
airport. "Steel and concrete are going up in the back," Perry adds.

"City growth drives the airport," Perry says.

The $8 million project, which includes new heating and air condi-tioning
units, is slated to be finished in a year. A June 26, 2004, ribbon-cutting
ceremony is planned.

Changes on the outside are designed to improve the appearance of the
terminal building. The third phase will expand the size of the terminal.

Perry says the idea is to provide "a pleasant place" for the airlines and "a
comfortable place to op-erate." Commercial passenger service is offered by
Atlantic Southeast Airlines, North West Air-link and U.S. Airways Express.

The Retirement System of Alabama owns 37 per-cent of U.S. Air, Perry says,
and he ads "We would love to have their headquarters."

The number one desti-nation from Montgomery Regional is Washington, D. C.,
and New York, San Francisco and San Antonio follow in that order.

"Eufaula is 50 miles from Columbus and Dothan," Perry notes. I recommend you
fly from Montgomery."

Mark Wenook, airport assistant director, says, "We're in a period of
challenge, one challenge on top of the other. Busi-ness travelers are not
traveling as much. People choose not to fly if their destination is three
hours or less away."

Several airlines are in bankruptcy. They are fly-ing 100 million less
passengers today than. prior to 9/11.

He adds it will be 2006 before the airlines reach their pre-9/11 level."

The airlines are "moth-balling airplanes and people can buy cheap tickets."

Passengers are asked to arrive two and one-half hours before their flight at
Atlanta and one and one-half hours is recom-mended at Montgomery. "It is a
lot less time at Montgomery."

"This summer, usually the peak season, airlines are getting desperate. The
rates out there are terrific. This summer you can fly coast to coast for
$250.

"The saving makes Montgomery very attractive," Wenook concludes.

Hernan Benavides, a frequent flyer and program chairman, introduced the
speakers.


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