New airport director looks forward to challenge
06.05.08
Kerry Quinn started her new job as the new director of Durham Tees Valley Airport this week. The Middlesbrough-born woman had an unusual career journey. She obtained post-graduate qualifications in Business Management and Human Resources before moving into HR in the health service, firstly with Newcastle Hospitals and then the University Hospital of North Tees.
In 1999 she joined the then Teesside Airport as head of human resources, and in recent years has taken responsibility for other areas including terminal and airfield management. She became director of operations in 2005 and is now one of only a few female airport directors in the UK.
In an interview she said: ‘I’m not a man, I’m not from ex-RAF, and yet I’ve survived in aviation for almost a decade. I need to stretch myself. Working under someone else is brilliant but I want to see what I can do on my own. However, I’m in a new role and I have lots to prove.’
Kerry says that the development plans which decorate her office walls are ‘a constant reminder of what needs to be done’, but for her, the structural changes are secondary to the overriding aim of getting more people through the doors.
Passenger numbers were up by 14% in the first 3 months of the year (compared with 2007) and, together with Peel, she has set a target of boosting passenger numbers from 750,000 to 3 million by 2015.
She faces a number of big challenges in achieving her goal. Air passenger duty rises, the threat of terrorism, record fuel prices hitting airline (and route) profitability and the credit crunch weakening demand from holiday-makers all mean Durham Tees Valley - along with the rest of the aviation industry - is facing a bumpy ride.
Kerry said: ‘We know what we are up against, but our airlines give us access to a range of markets including business, charter and leisure. We are looking to increase our volume of domestic schedule services to Heathrow, which gives us access to destinations across the globe.’
The airport is currently only operating at 50% of its capacity, so there is room to grow passengers before growing the airport. However, development plans - funded by a £56m cash injection from Peel Airports - include a business park and an airport hotel to the north. Meanwhile the south side will host the Skylink International Business Park, which will create a large-scale freight distribution centre and boost cargo through the airport from 1000 tonnes to a predicted 25,000 tonnes by 2015.
Durham Tees Valley will also extend the terminal buildings and airport parking facilities and has already started a £3m scheme to install airfield ground lighting along the runway. It believes these developments can increase passenger throughput, boost tourism, attract more inward investment and help increase its market share in the North-east from 16% in 2000 to 30% by 2030.
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