Project Updates

• 2018 marks the 7th Anniversary of Steven Baldwin Associates, which has been growing steadily since our founding in 2011. In celebration of another successful year of we'd like to provide a quick recap of some of the many projects we've worked on recently: 
  • a year-long strategic planning study to determine how to best optimize the use of the airport and its economic impact
  • a year-long organizational review to increase non-aeronautical revenue and expand air service options 
  • several benchmarking studies comparing client airports with comparable peers on targeted measurement items
  • organizational assessments reviewing departmental structure, reporting lines, number and type of staff
  • salary analysis comparing current salary & benefit structures with industry norms and comparable airports; working with State legislatures to increase airport salary caps
  • program evaluation to measure the effectiveness of the departments and the cohesion between departments, as well as an analysis of processes and procedures and management effectiveness
  • FAA land releases for multiple airport properties
  • program management and program support services, including helping oversee complex initiatives identified as key strategic goals 
  • coordination of FAA approval of a new air traffic control tower and a Federal Inspection Station for international travel
  • executive recruitment assignments for multiple airports
  • multiple governance review projects, from informational overviews of industry trends and pros/cons of particular models for a specific situation, to full-scale reviews with recommendations regarding transitioning to new governance models
• This represents just a portion of the many projects on our collective plates over the past year. In particular, we've seen a growth in our work regarding strategic plans and initiatives, governance review, organizational assessment and salary analysis, and recruitment. Our expertise spans multiple issues, and we are always ready to help our clients in whatever area there is a need. 

Client Feature

• Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR), Syracuse, NY
• In 2014, SBA helped the airport with a governance transfer, moving from a city-owned model to an FAA-approved regional Authority model. Since then, the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority, which operates the Airport, has made great strides, as Executive Director Christina Callahan explained. Enplanements at SYR have gone up nearly 10% from last year—the highest numbers seen in more than 10 years—as a result of a number of exciting and successful initiatives, including the addition of two ultra-low-cost carriers, Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines. One of the first major projects the Authority oversaw was the $60M Passenger Terminal Security Access Improvement Project, which featured a new, state-of-the-art security checkpoint, with multiple lanes to process priority and TSA pre-check passengers. To continue the passenger experience, the Authority also embarked on a major concourse renovation—with new flooring, seating, work stations, and additional electrical outlets for passengers. Also, after the governance transfer, the City asked the Authority to take over providing security and concessions. For security, the airport chose to outsource the function to a private security vendor and used a combination of law enforcement and unarmed airport security officers. The result was an annual cost savings of $2M. For the concessions development program, the airport issued an RFP which resulted in the selection of a new concessionaire, Creative Food Group, and a plan to rebuild concessions post-security. The result—after adding new national brands and a local brew pub—was a doubling of per passenger spending. Air service development has also taken off since 2014 when the addition of Allegiant was announced, an expansion of air service that saw returns immediately. Allegiant flies to Tampa/St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale, and Myrtle Beach, and announced new nonstop service to Sandford/Orlando in May and to Nashville in June. Frontier also recently announced that it will begin operating out of SYR in July with nonstop service to Denver and Raleigh-Durham and to Orlando and Chicago O'Hare in August. SYR now has non-stop service to a record-breaking 21 destinations. One of the key initiatives SYR undertook to attract and maintain air service was to restructure their relationship with airlines and the Airport Use Agreement, introducing a new rates and charges methodology and a new business model based on the premise that the Authority is responsible for the passenger experience from the moment the traveller drives down Col. Eileen Collings Blvd., to the moment they board the aircraft. In essence, the Authority took over responsibility for the entire passenger experience from parking to the gate, and took back maintaining the holding and gate areas, building the costs into airline rates and charges. With new agreements with the major and low cost carriers and cargo carriers, new terminal construction, and its central location in upstate New York SYR is well positioned to continue to capitalize on its strengths and continue its growth into the future. 
• Syracuse Hancock International Airport - www.flysyracuse.com
• Syracuse Regional Airport Authority - www.syrsraa.com

• Congratulations to Chad Leqve who has been promoted to Vice President of Management and Operations. Chad, a 22-year veteran of the airport, was previously director of the Environment Department. In his new duties, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of all seven airports in the MSP system. 
• JetBlue recently began service at MSP with service to Boston Logan International Airport three times daily. The new route marks the first scheduled service from the airline in Minnesota. In other new developments in air service, Sun Country recently began offering seasonal service to Honolulu, flying four times per week through mid-August. Additionally, in June, Delta Air Lines announced new service to Seoul, South Korea after a local group identified business needs for this route. Since January 2016, 11 airlines have added 48 new routes at MSP. Currently, there are 16 airlines operating at MSP offering direct service to 163 routes (136 domestic and 27 international). The airport is Delta Air Lines’ second largest hub, and it is the home base of Sun Country Airlines.
• Other notable items: MSP set a new passenger record in 2017, with more than 38 million people, making MSP the nation’s 16th busiest airport.  
• And in both 2016 and 2017, MSP was named Best Airport In North America (for the second consecutive year) in its size category by the Airports Council International, based on traveler feedback.
• For more info: Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport - https://www.mspairport.com

• Record passenger numbers nearing half a million;
• An unprecedented number of summer flights, including Delta to Detroit (daily), Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta, and New York City; United to Chicago (daily), Denver, and Newark; and American to Chicago (daily), Dallas-Ft. Worth, and New York City;
• Technology upgrades in the terminal and online, including a new TVC mobile app;
• Plans for physical upgrades to the beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright inspired terminal building; and
• A recent study by the Michigan DOT found that TVC's economic impact on the area stood at nearly $1 billion, ranking it third in the state after the much larger airports at Detroit and Grand Rapids. 
• And all of this is after receiving the "Airport of the Year" award earlier this year from the Michigan Department of Transportation Aeronautics division. 
• For more info: Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) - http://www.tvcairport.com

• ACI-NA's 70th Anniversary Conference to be held in "Music City" Nashville (BNA) from September 30 - October 2. We look forward, as we always do, to networking with clients and industry leaders at this premier event for airport industry leaders. 
• NYAMA 2018 Fall Conference to be held in 1,000 Island near Clayton, NY from September 10 - 12. We look forward to speaking with our many New York state clients and hope to network with additional state aviation professionals, all while attending panels focusing on state grants, air service development, and workforce issues. 

SBA Core Services:
Increase Your Competitive Edge

Effective airport management consulting involves blending policy, management, and technical expertise as well as assisting clients with a variety of ever-changing needs in a dynamic and competitive marketplace. 
 

SBA provides strategic planning, analysis, and review; financial analysis; and management and policy support

Increase Your Competitive Edge

Since 2011, we have been delivering aviation solutions to make your operations safer, more efficient, and more cost effective -- solutions which help you:

• expand and increase revenue sources
• be more cost competitive
• employ best practices and increase operational excellence
• improve customer satisfaction

Our strategic, management, and financial services include:

• governance and organizational review/analysis
• revenue optimization
• economic development
• extension of staff services, including executive hiring and compensation reviews
• tenant negotiations
• FBO assistance
• RFP development and solicitation
• and much more

Call us today at (518) 478-6321 ext. 101 or email us at info@baldwinllc.com to see how we can support your management needs.