Running an airport, not unlike piloting an airplane, comes with both blue skies and buffeting turbulence.
For the most part, first year TIA chief executive Joe Lopano has been operating with a pro-active tailwind and impressing people. He’s shown he can be a serious trade-mission player. It’s well noted that aggressive marketing is his forte. And it’s obvious he doesn’t venerate the status quo.
Lopano hasn’t been reluctant to make key personnel changes, even if it compromised some incumbent comfort zones. It’s part of a game plan aimed at re-prioritizing TIA, a crown jewel of Tampa Bay and an acknowledged world class facility. He’s made it abundantly evident that he won’t, for example, settle for TIA’s meager roster of direct international and Caribbean flights. He wants that sector upgraded and won’t use non-hub status as a reason — let alone an excuse — for not making it happen.
But now he has experienced some headwinds.
He recently pushed for his top execs — plus himself and the Aviation Authority’s board — to fly business class when on domestic flights exceeding two hours. The rationale: He wants his people out of the office drumming up business. And to accommodate their work load and their work ethic, he wanted them in an on-board environment most conducive for productive laptop work. That would be in first class.
The only problem: beyond awful timing. The Great Recession is still on everyone’s radar. Flying first class can cost three times more than coach. Employees traveling on public business need to remember who they work for.
Lopano then did — in response to high-profile criticism — the right thing. He rescinded his proposed policy change. His job is to make TIA more competitive, not put himself in the news.
But while no one is saying it, including Lopano, it’s likely this is not a net loss for JoeLo, a couple of awkward headlines notwithstanding. Anyone who’s ever been in management has also been in the motivation business. You want people — especially when you are the outsider courting loyalty — to go the extra sky mile for you, so you let them know that it works both ways.
To be sure, the travel upgrade didn’t pan out. The effort, however, will not be forgotten by those for whom perk isn’t a four-letter word.