When thousands of NCAA men’s basketball fans descended upon San Antonio for the national semifinal and championship game last year, their first impression of the historic city was of the award-winning San Antonio International Airport.
Kevin C. Dolliole, the city’s aviation director, had led that airport’s transformation from “dumpy” to one of the nation’s best in just five years.
It seems that the NCAA Final Four is following Dolliole across America. In 2002, it was held in New Orleans, where Dolliole spent a decade improving its airport, and it comes to St. Louis this year. So is Dolliole.
Mayor Francis Slay announced Wednesday that Dolliole is the new director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
He will now help this vital cog in the region’s economy continue its recovery from the departure of many American Airlines flights and will also use his expertise to improve retail business in its terminals.
“I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities at Lambert Airport,” Dolliole said.
“A region’s airport is vitally important to its economy. It is also the city’s front door. So we will focus on air service development and improving the customer experience at Lambert.”
Last year, San Antonio International tied the Calgary, Alberta airport for first place in the J.D. Power & Associates Global Airport Satisfaction Study.
Airport Revenue News, the industry’s leading trade magazine, recently announced the results of its 2005 Best Concessions Poll, and for a second consecutive year San Antonio International Airport led the way in the small airport category. The award is given to the airport with a program that best incorporates a convenient, customer-friendly layout, good visibility, attractive storefronts, unique and interesting store mix and distinctive themes.
Slay called Dolliole “a strong leader with experience managing every aspect of airport operations.”
“Because he understands that airports are regional economic assets, he involves the community in decisions,” Slay said.
As St. Charles officials and some Republican legislators continue their push for more control of the airport, the director’s ability to work with community members could be essential in that relationship.
Dolliole replaces Leonard Griggs, who retired at the close of 2004.
Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay said the appointment is a toast to much-needed diversity in St. Louis City Hall and in the region.
“The appointment of Kevin Dolliole as the new director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a very positive development for our community,” Clay told the American.
“I’m happy to see that, as Mayor Slay prepares for his second term, he is aware of the need for diversity in his cabinet.”
African Americans appointed to key cabinet posts by Slay now include Dolliole, Rodney Crim, St. Louis Development Corporation director, Melba Moore, health commissioner, and Marjorie Melton, president of the Board of Public Service.
Alderman Mike McMillan, who supported Slay in the March 8 Democratic primary, cited Slay’s appointment of blacks to key governmental roles as a reason for winning his endorsement.
In fact, Slay has such confidence in Dolliole that the new airport director will be the city’s highest-paid employee with a salary of $165,000.
Lambert employs more than 19,000 people through airlines, vendors, service companies and the City of St. Louis. Of the 19,000 people, 688 are City of St. Louis employees. The airport is owned and operated by the City of St. Louis. Lambert handles 437,117 aircraft operations and approximately 20 million passengers, with approximately 1,197 average daily arrivals and departures.
The promotion is a step up for Dolliole who, as San Antonio’s aviation director, was responsible for operations at San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Field, a general aviation airport.
The San Antonio Airport has 420 employees and boarded seven million passengers with 270,000 operations per year.
Before moving to San Antonio, Dolliole worked for 10 years at New Orleans International Airport, where he served as deputy director of aviation, assistant director and then acting director. While there, he managed all aspects of that airport’s operations.
