Missoula Airport looks for new income

Missoula facility hires development expert

Missoula International Airport has hired a business development specialist to help broaden the airport’s financial base so it’s less dependent on the fluctuating airline industry.

By MICK HOLIEN of the Missoulian

The move is especially timely with the recent announcement that Delta Air Lines will cease 737 jet service and close its Missoula terminal in January.

"The more you decrease that (carrier dependence), the less the airport is affected by these swings," said John Seymour, director of airports for the Missoula County Airport Authority.

After a regional search this summer, Paddy Fleming, 37, started Monday as the airport’s business development and planning manager. The pay range for the job is $61,843 to $85,300.

"He has a lot of background in manufacturing and assisting businesses to become better, more efficient and more profitable," Seymour said. "All his references were just outstanding."

A graduate of Charlo High School and Montana State University, Fleming most recently worked for the Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, which operates out of the MSU College of Engineering in Bozeman.

He has a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s in business administration from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois, and ran numerous paper mills for International Paper Co. and was general manager at Tenneco Packaging in Lake Forest, Ill.

Fleming, who has had a branch office in Kalispell for the past 2 1/2 years, said he’s excited about the new position at the Missoula airport and the opportunity to continue working with the state’s economic development professionals, "to let them know we’re open for business."

While businesses such as U.S. Forest Service contractors, aviation parts manufacturers and air freight shippers could be most interested in setting up shop on the airport grounds, there are plenty of opportunities for other companies.

Being able to lease space instead of having to construct a building, for example, and other benefits could make doing business at the airport attractive, said Fleming.

"Even somebody who doesn’t need runway access, it might be a good thing for them," he said.

"The possibility of diversifying the revenue stream," said Fleming, is what attracted him to the job. "We’re hoping to make it more attractive to companies to locate on the airport property."

Fleming will oversee planning and development with the guidance of the airport director. He’ll also maintain and coordinate the Capital Improvement Plan, work on Federal Aviation Administration grants, serve as the environmental compliance officer, act as the construction representative for the Airport Authority and have a host of other responsibilities.

While Missoula County’s Airport Development Park is nearby, Fleming doesn’t believe trying to attract business to Missoula International is in conflict with efforts there.

"I don’t see any competition whatsoever," he said.

Seymour, who had a similar position with the Airport Authority in the early 1990s, said other airports the size of Missoula’s often have a planning and development person on staff working toward "making good use of airport assets."

Airline landing fees used to represent 60 percent of the Missoula airport’s revenue stream, but now it’s down to about 40 percent. Volatility of the industry has forced the issue with the nation’s smaller airports.

"You can’t be dependent," he said. "There’s really a switch in the way a small airport looks at this because of the carriers."

Reporter Mick Holien can be reached at 523-5262 or at [email protected]

http://missoulian.com/articles/2003/11/04/news/local/news02.txt