Southern Region Honors Erik Frankl
Eric J. Frankl, A.A.E., Executive Director of Lexington's Blue
Grass Airport, has been selected as the 2010 Air Carrier Airport
Manager of the Year by the FAA's Southern Region. The award was
presented at the annual FAA Southern Region Airports Communications
Conference in Atlanta last week.
"Eric Frankl has been very instrumental in the remarkable
accomplishments at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport," said Winsome A.
Lenfert, Manager, Airports Division, FAA Southern Region. "Frankl's
tireless leadership has transformed Blue Grass Airport into a model
facility. He is an inspiration to airport managers throughout the
Southern Region."
Frankl was named Executive Director of the airport in 2009.
Since then, he and his team have overseen more than $66 million
worth of airport improvement projects to ensure a safe and
efficient airport for the traveling public. Projects included
renovation of the airport terminal interior and exterior, building
a new crosswind general aviation runway, unveiling a new airport
entrance reflective of the Bluegrass region, and taxiway, ramp and
electrical vault improvements.
Under Frankl's leadership, Blue Grass Airport has seen a 19.3
percent passenger growth rate in 2010. This double-digit increase
is attributed to the welcoming of AirTran Airways in February 2010
as well as new Allegiant Air service to Punta Gorda/Southwest
Florida, American Eagle service to Chicago, Delta Air Lines service
to Minneapolis and US Airways service to New York's LaGuardia
Airport.
In October 2010, as the airport hosted the Alltech FEI World
Equestrian Games, Frankl led the airport through one of the busiest
months in its history when it experienced a 39 percent growth in
passenger enplanements over the previous year. Held every
four years, attendance for the Games exceeded 500,000 spectators
and included representation from 58 countries.
"We are proud of the accomplishments Eric Frankl and his staff
have undertaken since his tenure at Blue Grass Airport," said
Richard Hopgood, Chairman of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County
Airport Board. "He has made tremendous efforts in building
relationships within the aviation industry and local community, and
he has led us through one of the busiest construction seasons in
the airport's history. We are pleased he is receiving this
distinguished recognition and appreciate the excellent relationship
he has built with the FAA."
In addition to this award, Blue Grass Airport was recognized
with the FAA Airport Safety Mark of Distinction Award earlier in
the week at the FAA Southern Region 2011 Airport Safety and
Certification Conference. Blue Grass Airport received this
honor for construction of its new general aviation runway and for
the development of an airport operations department.