New leader put in charge of San Antonio airport

Assistant City Manager Carlos Contreras has been temporarily assigned to be the “primary lead” of San Antonio’s aviation department, according to an internal memo City Manager Sheryl Sculley sent to her executive leadership team Tuesday. He will physically work on site at the airport while in that position.

The aviation director, Frank Miller, “will report directly” to Contreras and will oversee airfield and other airport operations, the memo said. The city’s aviation department controls the San Antonio International Airport and Stinson Municipal Airport.

The change in leadership is happening as San Antonio’s airport has received increased scrutiny, as it trails competitors in other cities. According to an annual report released in October, the San Antonio airport system’s passenger traffic saw little increase and revenue dropped 11 percent. Meanwhile, Austin’s airport saw record passenger numbers, outpacing San Antonio by 1.8 million people.

In her memo, Sculley said Contreras will “immediately address a variety of projects including: expanded Air Service (particularly increasing the number of non-stop flights), customer service, and oversight of major capital projects for the two airports, including the Customs renovation and the consolidated rental car facility (CONRAC) project, and the related customer service issues.”

Miller was hired as aviation director in 2009, after heading the Pensacola Gulf Coast Airport in Florida, a position he had held for 22 years. At the time, the San Antonio airport was undergoing a massive upgrade and expansion.

During Miller’s tenure, City Council voted to adopt a $4.50 daily fee for airport car rentals in order to fund construction of a consolidated rental car facility at the airport, and flights to and from Mexico have increased.

Previously, Miller was manager of airports in Juneau, Alaska, and Grand Junction, Colorado.

vdavila@express-news.net