Meet Candace McGraw, CEO of the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport since July 2011. McGraw joined CVG as Chief Administrative Officer in 2009. Before she came to CVG she served as Deputy Director of the Cleveland Airport System and General Counsel for Cleveland City Council. A prominent community leader, McGraw serves on the boards of several organizations in NKY and Greater Cincinnati, including Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, Vision 2015 Regional Stewardship Council, Gateway Community and Technical College, Northern Kentucky United Way Action Council and the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Chambers of Commerce.
We spoke with McGraw about recent changes at CVG and what's in store for 2012 and beyond.
Tri-ED: What's in the works at CVG in 2012? What are your priorities for travelers this year?
Candace McGraw: We are extremely excited about the terminal renovations and reactivation of Concourse A in Terminal 3. The process, which will be completed by summer 2012, will make our region's airport more efficient and competitive in order to provide a better experience for our passengers and our airline partners. Carriers that operate in Terminal 2 – Air Canada, American, Continental, US Airways and United Airlines – will move to gates in Concourse A. Passenger ticketing, baggage and security will be available in Terminal 3, and passengers will access Concourse A via the tunnel and trains currently used for Concourse B passengers.
This project is significant because Concourse A has 16 gates versus the 8 gates that are currently in Terminal 2. With this project, we will provide existing carriers the ability to expand, and we will have the facilities available to accommodate any potential new entrants to CVG.
We also continue to work aggressively with airlines and our community partners to develop air service options. Our airline partners, which also include Delta Air Lines, offer 170 daily departures to 52 non-stop cities, more than another other airport in the region, including direct international service to Paris, Toronto, and Cancun. Airlines at CVG provide direct service to 37 of the top 40 U.S. business markets.
CVG is the Trans-Atlantic International Gateway for three states. With our low debt structure and efficient airfield, we are one of the most cost-competitive airports in the country. We continue to explore all options to provide more direct service, by more airlines, to more destinations at lower fares.
Tri-ED: How does CVG compare to other airports?
CM: CVG offers travelers better access than surrounding airports in our region:
December 2011
|
City |
Peak Daily Departures |
Non-Stop Cities Served |
|
Lexington |
35 |
15 |
|
Dayton |
61 |
16 |
|
Louisvile |
77 |
26 |
|
Indianapolis |
135 |
32 |
|
Columbus |
142 |
31 |
|
Pittsburgh |
152 |
34 |
|
CVG |
170 |
52 |
Tri-ED: Any plans for additional flights or international flight connections?
CM: In response to requests from local businesses, Delta Air Lines is adding additional flights from CVG to Atlanta and Detroit beginning March 2, 2012, providing greater flexibility for local travelers to get to and from major markets in the same day to conduct business. Delta will add a round-trip flight to each market at times that will also help connect local passengers connect beyond to international markets, such as Seoul, Korea. Additionally, Delta is adding round-trip, same-plane service via Salt Lake City to Portland with a convenient connection to Oakland, California – destinations requested by local businesses. These schedule changes are another indicator that Delta is being responsive to local concerns and working with businesses committed to the Cincinnati area to continue to provide strong air service for our region.
We have more good news on the leisure front: Vacation Express will continue their charters this summer on Sunwing Airlines, a Toronto, Canada-based carrier, to Punta Cana and Cancun. In addition, they are adding charter service to Montego Bay beginning May 25.
Tri-ED: How does CVG work with businesses to ensure travel is easy for executives/frequent flyers? Many of the high tech firms in the region require a ''rapid response'' team who require air travel at short notice. What types of accommodations / programs are in place to address these needs?
CM: Airlines at CVG offer direct service to 37 of the top 40 U.S. business markets.
Our parking advantage program offers faster and smoother VIP access in and out of our parking facilities as well as a valet parking option. Moreover, we have Dedicated Customer Service Agents, who are employees of CVG, who help speed travelers through security. We also maintain dedicated TSA lanes for airline priority status members.
Tri-ED: How does CVG work with other organizations in the community to impact economic development efforts?
CM: We work closely with Tri-ED, County representatives, Chambers in both Kentucky and Ohio, and Convention and Visitors Bureaus to attract and retain businesses here in the region. Two recent examples include our collective work with Pemco, an aircraft maintenance repair company, and ZF Steering, an automotive steering supplier, to expand both of their operations and add employees. We worked together to lease land on a long-term basis to each company. Their growth has already resulted in more than 600 new jobs for the region and over $500,000 in annual rent to the airport. We are working to use all of our land assets to re-invent our business model and diversify our revenue stream and grow beyond our typical aeronautical revenue sources.
Tri-ED: Those are two great examples of entities working together to benefit the region. What other efforts are underway regarding developing airport land?
CM: We are part of an effort to develop airport land related to the aviation industry, such as aerospace manufacturers and retail distribution facilities. This is part of a broader strategy to position CVG for future growth by diversifying revenue streams and creating sustainable sources of non-aeronautical revenue as we move forward. We believe leasing land for the long-term is more beneficial as it provides a constant source of revenue as opposed to realizing a one-time revenue benefit by selling land. We are excited about working with our regional partners to explore more land development opportunities to boost the region’s economy and create jobs.
Tri-ED: DHL's presence at CVG has added substantial cargo presence and job creation. What are the plans to capitalize on this type of business?
CM: One of our most significant growth stories at the airport continues to be DHL. This global cargo carrier employs nearly 2,000 at CVG, and it recently completed a $22 million expansion at the airport. In 2012, DHL will be approximately 40 percent of our landed weight at CVG. DHL is a very engaged and critical business partner of ours, and we look forward to supporting more growth for DHL in the coming year.
Tri-ED: CVG continues to earn high marks for Customer Service and Safety. What are some recent developments in those important areas?
CM: We have a great team here at CVG that is committed to operational excellence. In 2011, CVG received national recognition as the ''Best Regional Airport in North America'' as well as the top-ranked airport for ''Staff Service Excellence,'' which underscores our promise of delivering the highest levels of service and customer satisfaction to our passengers and air service providers. The awards are a result of the independent World Airport Survey conducted by Skytrax, a London-based air transport research organization. Passenger surveys asked customers to rate the quality of service and airport facilities across 39 different factors.
CVG is also the first airport in the country to apply for and receive SAFETY Act Designation and Certification from the Department of Homeland Security. CVG was awarded this designation for demonstrating a superior level of safety and security in protecting the airport, our passengers and employees. As a result, CVG ranked #1 as the safest airport in America by Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2011.