With a new CEO, Philly airport resets priorities

A fifth new runway on the Delaware River, once seen as the linchpin in a long-range expansion plan at Philadelphia International Airport, is on hold for now because of changing flying trends, said the airport's new CEO, Rochelle "Chellie" Cameron.

Major carriers, including American Airlines with a hub in Philadelphia, are flying bigger airplanes, packing more people on them, and phasing out small 50-seat regional jets, Cameron said in her office last week.

Takeoffs and landings at Philadelphia International have declined from 535,666 in 2005 to 411,368 last year. Passenger numbers have hovered around 30 million a year, although they ticked up in 2015 to 31.4 million.

The peak for Philadelphia passengers was 32.2 million in 2007, before the Wall Street collapse and global recession that followed.

Aircraft operations in Philadelphia - takeoffs and landings - are down 23 percent since the original expansion proposal was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and sifted from 29 options considered in 2000.

"What that means is the driving need for the new runway is less than it was when we put the plan together," said Cameron, who became the airport's chief executive officer in January.

"Because the delays are not as bad as they were, because the takeoffs and landings are less, we really need to look at terminals. They are old, and they are small. And that's what people see," she said.

"At some point, a new runway will be needed. It's not needed today."

The expansion plan includes lengthening two runways, replacing current rental-car surface lots with a multistory consolidated rental-car building, and designing an automated "people mover" to transport passengers between terminals.

Cameron, 47, who came to Philadelphia in 2011 after 13 years with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, said she has three priorities for the Philadelphia airport.

Improving customer service and "the passenger experience. That means everything from how a passenger feels, to what they see, to what they have to do, to meeting their travel goals and objectives."

Making the best with existing airport terminals by "repairing and rehabilitating, and putting a spit-shine on all our facilities." Work has begun replacing HVAC heating and air-conditioning units on roofs, renovating bathrooms, installing new escalators and elevators, and replacing old jet bridge walkways that connect aircraft gates to the planes.

Continuing with the airport expansion plan, estimated in 2012 to cost between $6.4 billion and $10.5 billion.

The construction would be paid for by Philadelphia revenue bonds, passenger-facility charges, and federal FAA grants - not by taxpayers. Debt service on the bonds is primarily paid for by rates and charges that airlines pay.

Current work includes a main east-west runway, 9 Right-27 Left, being lengthened by 1,500 feet to 12,000 feet, capable of accommodating large long-haul aircraft that could fly to Asia.

Construction also is underway on straightening taxiways on the airfield to queue planes better for departures.

Airlines in July approved $173.25 million in rehabilitation and repair projects for the airfield and terminals.

Cargo and passenger airlines at the airport will decide by the end of 2016 on one, or up to three, additional construction projects. They could include:

Redesigning the Terminal B and C ticketing areas, with automated baggage handling and screening, and a centralized, spacious passenger-security checkpoint.

Lengthening Runway 8-26 to 7,000 feet.

Relocating the FAA air-traffic-control tower from Hog Island Road to an area near the cellphone waiting lot to prepare for a possible new runway along the Delaware River where the United Parcel Service airfreight facility is now.

"We are talking with the airlines already about what comes next, what's the focus," said Cameron, whose No. 1 priority will be improving customer service.

J.D. Power & Associates last fall surveyed passengers in small, medium, and large airports about their satisfaction with the terminals; airport accessibility; screening checkpoints; baggage claim; the check-in process, including checking luggage; and food and shopping.

Among 31 large airports, Philadelphia ranked 27th. Newark Liberty was at the bottom, preceded by New York LaGuardia, Los Angeles International, and Chicago O'Hare. Congested, older urban airports rated behind newer, more modern ones that handle fewer passengers. Portland, Ore., and Tampa, Fla., were ranked at the top.

Cameron said Philadelphia airport plans to do its own passenger survey, and send volunteers and customer-service staff to gate areas to ask travelers about their airport experience and "how we can improve it."

The Division of Aviation also is developing a customer-service video that will be mandatory viewing for the airport's 20,000 "badged" employees who work in secure areas and meet the public.

Retail and food concessions, and airlines, do their own customer-service training, "but we want to hit everybody equally," Cameron said. "If they get a badge, they'll have to view the video."

Cameron, who has a master's of business administration, served as Philadelphia airport's chief financial officer for three years. She became chief operating officer in 2014. Mayor Kenney named her to be chief executive officer in December.

The new CEO has been doing town-hall meetings with employees. She met recently at 5 a.m. with custodians who clean bathrooms and public spaces.

"I told them: 'I'm incredibly proud of being a Philadelphian now. It's a place that pulls you in, and makes you part of it. I'm even more proud of the airport and what every one of you do,' Cameron said.

" 'But we need to make sure that we show that to all our passengers. If you see a passenger who needs help, a mom with two little ones who is having trouble finding her way, if we don't approach her and try to help, we've missed an opportunity.' "

Cameron said all those in the room shook their heads and said: "Yeah, you're right. This is our airport. We need to make it better."

lloyd@phillynews.com

215-854-2831@LoydLinda