Speaker Biograghy: Gary has a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered professional engineer and has been with the MAC for 23 years. He manages a staff of professional engineers, architects and scientists, overseeing a $100 to $500 million annual capital programme. He has directed the planning and construction of Runway 17-35, a $760 million multi-phased programme that included elimination of a golf course, tenant relocations, hotel demolition next to the Mall of America, parallel taxiways, high-speed turn-offs and a CAT III approach. He was a team leader involved with updating the MSP 2030 Master Plan and associated environmental assessment. He has received national recognition by the American Public Works Association as one of the Top 10 Public Works Leaders in America. Personal fact: Gary has performed in musicals and is a private pilot.


Day 1 - 25 March
Session: Airport Design, Planning & Development

12:00 - 12:30 - Low-cost carrier gate expansion in a fortress hub environment
Synopsis: Times have never been more challenging to make infrastructure investments, especially to facilitate low-cost carrier competition in a fortress hub environment. MSP has been dealing with double-digit low-cost carrier growth in the face of flat to modest growth by the hub carrier. In dealing with competing carrier interests, the MAC has moved through a decision-making process that includes validating airline forecasts and scheduling, gate utilisation driven by different segment lengths and differing air carrier business models, and extraneous influences from outside community and governmental influences; all for a three-gate, $35m expansion!

Audience will learn:

• How to make infrastructure investment decisions based on airline forecasts
• The complexities associated with competing air carrier business models
• Financial considerations associated with funding capital investment at MSP
• How to organise for staged implementation of your long-term plan
• A little about the psychology of private-sector decision making versus investing in long-term infrastructure capacity improvements