A Desire to Move Forward

John F. Infanger
Created: September 22, 2009

At San Antonio, redeveloping the terminal complex, customer service top the agenda

“I really look at it as an air service issue, and a way for the airport to maybe generate a little extra money for itself. I’ve had discussions with the airlines where I’ve told them I was in favor of doing ground handling.

“I want to look at it so that at the very least it’s break-even, with the ultimate goal of creating a positive cash flow. I think the airport has a responsibility to look at ways to continue to drive down the costs to the airlines.

“We need to start looking at what makes sense for us to provide? On the ground handling aspect, is it a way to speed up bags getting to the concourse while making it cheaper for the airlines? If you look at the European model, that’s done all the time. Are there ways that we can start to address customer service issues but at a cost that is attractive to the airlines?”

‘It’s a Lot More Serious’
San Antonio aviation director Frank Miller has lived through the cycles of the changing airline industry. What we’re seeing today, he says, is a different animal.

“This is a little different than what I’ve seen before. I don’t see this as just a blip on the radar screen,” says Miller.

“I think there’s a possibility that we’ll see another airline go into bankruptcy and maybe not come out. Planes are full, but the traffic is down at the same time.

“I’m not sure how it will eventually shake out. The airlines are more savvy and realized that the business model had to change, and it has changed. I’m not sure anyone can say what that means going forward.

“It’s a lot more serious.

“At some point the airlines and the airports have to come to some sense of how our two industries work together. It’s not the same as it was before.”