As the General Assembly nears approval of an independent Connecticut Airport Authority, the state’s highest profile airport facility — Bradley International in Windsor Locks — continues to fly without the key position of route development director.
Luis Perez, who started as marketing and route development director last July 12, abruptly left the position in December, airport spokesman John Wallace confirmed Tuesday.
Route development director is a key position at any airport, as that official works to bring in new airlines and works with existing airlines to bring in new routes. Filling the position has been a problem for Bradley. When Perez was hired, the position was vacant for more than six months after Kiran Jain left the job in 2009.
Part of the issue is Bradley lacks authority to fill the position, and the state Department of Transportation runs the job search. The process is very lethargic as DOT officials go back and forth with airport officials whenever recruiting for a new position.
DOT spokesman Judd Everhart said the route development director is a key position that needs to be filled. However, the pending airport authority legislation and the state’s budget problems have slowed an already slow process
Perez left the position to take a job at an airport in Texas. Perez previously worked in Texas and got an offer there, Wallace said.
When Perez held the position from July to December, the airport added a new carrier – low-cost airline JetBlue – although that announcement was made before Perez took the position. Various carriers also added new routes to Washington, D.C., North Carolina, New York City and Milwaukee.
Since Perez left, the airport hasn’t added any new carriers or routes, Wallace said.
With the position vacant, Bradley Administrator Eric Waldron has taken over some of the route development responsibilities. The airport also has an outside consultant who works with airlines and attends trade shows to increase the number of Bradley flights.
The long vacancies between hires at key positions is a main reason Gov. Dannel Malloy and the Connecticut General Assembly are trying to create an independent airport authority to oversee all the state’s airports.
The new authority will have the ability to hire key positions and make important decisions without having to run back to DOT for approval.
The legislation creating the Connecticut Airport Authority – Senate Bill 1003 – received near unanimous support in the General Assembly, passing through six legislative committees include Commerce and Finance. The bill awaits action by the state senate.
