Among the Highlights at the National Airports Conference in Tucson This Week ...

Sept. 21, 2011
… were insights from FAA’s No. 2, deputy associate administrator for airports Kate Lang, and Bob Montgomery, VP of properties for Southwest Airlines. Both are quite well known on this circuit – notably for their pragmatism and candor. Regarding this summer’s shutdown of FAA operations as a result of the ongoing power struggle in Washington, Lang relates, “That was really a blow to the organization.†It was a “failure of the system†that forced airport workers to stay home – legally they couldn’t report, she says. Then there were the mission-critical personnel who worked without pay. “This issue of not getting paid is a big deal,†says Lang. And she adds, “People who got whacked over the head did a good job. I was impressed by a group that I’ve always been impressed with.†Regarding the four-year battle for long-term FAA/system reauthorization, Lang says “It’s really time we had a different discussion in Washington.†One lesson of the impasse may be that it’s time to rethink how we fund airport projects, she says. “We’re living in a world where it’s really tough to do any tactical thinking.†It’s more “scenario planning,†comments Lang. “It’s time we got the ‘dys’ out of ‘dysfunctional’, she adds. Meanwhile, Southwest’s Montgomery is a good ol’ boy if there ever was one, and he has spent much of his life with the low-fare carrier and lived and breathed the Herb Kelleher experience. Regarding the current malaise in which we live Montgomery relates a Kelleher adage, “Manage in the good times for the bad times, because the bad times will surely come.†He adds: “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.†Regarding the billions being spent by air carriers due to dramatically higher fuel prices Montgomery states, “That’s a lot of billions not being spent on other things.†Of course, a hot topic for Southwest Airlines is its recent merger, still ongoing, with AirTran. Southwest saw it as a growth opportunity, one that imbedded it into Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, which had limited available gates, and one that brought AirTran’s experience in the international arena into play for the Dallas-based carrier. Regarding ATL he says, “This allowed us to get in there in a very different way.†On the minds of many airports in attendance is how Southwest will ultimately restructure its route system. Says Montgomery, “Right now, we’re going to keep flying anything that’s profitable.†And regarding the integration of the two airlines he comments, “It’s like moving cattle in a drive … you have to get them moving slow at first.†Looking ahead, bringing Boeing’s new 737-800 online at Southwest represents opportunity. Relates Montgomery, “It’s going to help us grow and fly some new missions.†And, on the topic of airport/airline relationships, Montgomery says that the post-9/11 world, one recently marked by a dramatically volatile fuel market, has led to both sectors having to change and “airports have done the same thing.†“I can truly say the relationship between airports and airlines has never been better,†says Montgomery. “The economy is out to kill us – all of us. So we have to band together to defeat it.†Finally, he quotes country personality and sausage king Jimmy Dean, “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails so I can meet my destination.†Amen. Thanks for reading. jfi