Top 40 Under 40: Howard Mann

Dec. 3, 2014

Howard Mann

Vice President, Policy and Market Analysis

BIO

Mann is a specialist in air service development, bilateral government policy, and passenger/border/security facilitation.  As he approaches 15 years of aviation industry experience, Mr. Mann provides extensive air service development, strategic planning and regulatory support to airport and aviation industry clients around the world. 

As an air service development consultant, he creates and implement strategies to grow and retain traffic for both incumbent and potential new entrant carriers.  He leads client teams at InterVISTAS for airports and communities both domestically and internationally (Orange County, Houston, Elmira Corning, Philadelphia, Denver, Oakland, Lisbon, Costa Rica’s international gateways and many others). This requires a comprehension of market data from government and community sources, an understanding of the changing business models of target air carriers and forecasting skills to work with carriers on expected performance.  He is a frequent speaker at airport community events, board meetings and industry conferences regarding air service development strategy.  In parallel to his air service development work, Mr. Mann works in Washington to incorporate aeropolitical and passenger facilitation policies into route proposals in order to ensure new itineraries are sustainable in the future. 

Prior to joining InterVISTAS, he served with ACI-NA where he worked extensively with U.S. and Canadian airport members on a wide variety of issues including bilateral air service policy, domestic air service and passenger facilitation.  While at ACI-NA, Mr. Mann managed the JumpStart program for three years as well as worked with member airports on U.S. passport and visa policy, US-VISIT and various other CBP Issues. 

As a true aviation enthusiast, Mr. Mann has visited over 140 airports for fun across six continents. Mr. Mann has a dual Business and American History degree from the University of Pittsburgh and he currently resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife and two kids.

1)      Why did you select aviation as a career?
I was bitten by the bug early in life when my dad used to take me to watch planes at the old terminal at DCA

2)      What advice from a mentor helped you the most in your career?

The best advice was no matter what, take care of your clients and always seek to deliver value-added work

3)      What is the biggest challenge you see facing aviation today?

Recognizing that our industry is constantly evolving.  Aviation is here to stay, but in the air service development world, it’s paramount to bridge the dialogue and manage the expectations as the industry changes.

4)      What advice would you give to others in the industry?

Even though the industry dyanmics in aviaton change fast, it’s also such a thrilling part of our society and so I would say “stick with it!”

5)      What are three things we don’t know about you?

I proposed to my wife at the airport! Gravelly Point at the end of the Reagan National runway in DC

I traveled around the world on the Semester at Sea program during college.  They didn’t offer a Semester on an Airplane – I would have done that first J

I love cooking and attempting recipes from cuisines around the world