“We have been challenged like we have never been challenged before,” said alumna Kim Becker (‘97), president and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, in speaking with Aviation Outlook moderator and Dean of the College of Aviation, Dr. Alan Stolzer, during a live webinar on Sept. 23.
Stolzer and Becker discussed her experience managing a major American airport, San Diego International airport (SAN), the impact of the pandemic on airport operations and what the future holds for SAN.
For airport managers like Becker, the industry has changed shape seemingly overnight. SAN, is a 661-acre aviation facility with the busiest single runway airport in the U.S. and third-busiest in the world. It usually handles 25 million travelers a year, but is much quieter now, lined with Plexiglass service desks and closed shops and restaurants.
“There are just so many unknowns. International traffic is nonexistent. … It’s really about survival mode.”
Still, Becker sees opportunity. “[Travelers] are so much more conscientious about safety now … they want more contactless systems” she said, adding that airlines have also become more selective of their routes. “A little more strategic.”
And that’s a good thing, Becker added, noting that restrictions caused by the global pandemic foster creative thinking. With a relatively small footprint for such a busy airport — 50 of her airports could fit inside the Denver airport footprint alone — SAN has always had to prioritize efficiency, and doing so has made the business stronger.
“I think the industry as a whole will benefit from this,” Becker said. “We will be back, and we will thrive, but I do believe it will look different.”
Aviation Outlook Webinars are live interactive conversations via Zoom with key aviation and aerospace leaders and trendsetters, many Embry-Riddle alumni, who offer their insights on the current state of aviation and what the future holds for these most dynamic and technical of industries. It is free and open to all. To find the next webinar and register, go to [ Ссылка ]
