Avports is pleased to announce Matt Shelby as the company’s new vice president of business development. Mr. Shelby comes to Avports poised to help the company build on its 95-year history and aggressively grow its airport portfolio both in terminal operations and management as well public private partnership (P3) investments.
With experience leading operations, real estate and airport development at multiple major U.S. carriers, Mr. Shelby is a passionate industry veteran with nearly 25 years of executive experience, with most of the last 2 decades focused on leasing and developing airport real estate opportunities for commercial airlines, including a number of P3s. These include United Airlines $450M investment in the redevelopment of LAX as well as leading the carriers’ efforts to secure successful P3 transitions at SJU and LGA CTB. Most recently Matt led Alaska’s efforts to redevelop LAX and SEA and to launch commercial service from Paine Field, a P3 reliever airport near its SEA hub.
“I hope we can challenge the historical perspective that airlines are not supportive of P3s. I think they just want to know their operations are being prioritized and that they are paying a fair and transparent price for those services,” Matt said. “With a top-down commitment from our leaders and owners, we plan to grow the portfolio but not lose sight of our most important asset, which is the trust and credibility of our airline partners.”
Matt comes to Avports with extensive aviation experience, including leading airport and consortium negotiations as managing director of real estate at Alaska Airlines and prior similar roles in with United. A licensed attorney, Matt began his aviation career in airport operations at ValuJet/AirTran before taking a role in the real estate group after law school and a short time in private practice. During his career he worked closely and established relationships with local airport and government officials around the country, as well as insourced and outsourced airport O&M providers and a number of P3 airport developers and investors.
Jorge Roberts, CEO, said, “Over the past three years, we have assembled one of the best executive and management teams in the industry, positioning us as one of the leading airport management companies in the U.S. market. Matt is a respected aviation leader who will help us continue to grow as we take Avports to the next level.”
“I’m excited to join the Avports family,” said Matt Shelby. “I am impressed at how Avports has transformed over the past few years under Jorge’s leadership to become the leader and provider of choice for outsourced management. I am joining the company at a time when the launch pad has been set, so I am ready to help Avports reach new heights!”
