b'AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENTLAF 61typically dont come knocking on yourOne of the biggest cheerleaders forProviding connections for global access door, Baxmeyer muses. In 2019,LAF is Purdue President Mung Chiang. Inwas another driver. significant progress had been made untilhis guiding ABCD strategy, the A stands the grounding of the 737 MAX. Networkfor airport. (B references broadbandA Perfect Matchplanners with legacy carriers and affiliatesinitiatives for rural counties, C is for aNicholas Haan, Air Service Development had their hands full connecting the bighard-tech corridor in central Indiana,practice lead at Crawford, Murphy & Tilly dots on the map, let alone adding newand D highlights the importance ofin Indianapolis, is the markets. Just as things were returning toconnecting with Washington, D.C.) Onairports consultant normal, COVID added an entirely differentthe airport front, Chiang actively supportsfor assessing and and more significant challenge. Manythe Purdue Flies initiative, which focusesattracting new air airlines were left with the dilemma of whereon developing all things aviation at theservice. He met to cut rather than where to add.university.Baxmeyer at the In retrospect, Baxmeyer says it tookBruce Jacobs,2019 Aviation Indiana patience, persistence, solid marketPurdue alum andAnnual ConferenceNICHOLAS HAANresearch and analysis, andmostspecial assistant toand began as a importantlycommunity support to returnthe chief executiveconsultant for Purdue that same year. service to LAF. Air service developmentofficer of Surf AirBeing an alumnus, I was very interested is complicated and hyper-competitive, heMobility, Southernin what was going on at the airport. Adam says. Above all else, communities needAirways Express[Baxmeyer] mentioned to me that he was to remember that airlines are businessesparent company,BRUCE JACOBS trying to restore service at LAF. I think he with highly mobile assets. It is importantadvises airportsrecognized the passion that I have for to understand your market and do yourinterested in adding routes to understandPurdue and that no one would work harder homework well. Airlines place resources inthe economics and have an overridingto get air service back than I would. So he locations thoughtfully to recognize a profit. reason for wanting new service.gave us the opportunity to help out. Commercial Service Returns Located halfway between Chicago andCommitment of the community and localHaan started by quantifying demand in Indianapolis, LAF is the second-busiestbusiness is critical, he says, adding thatthe Lafayette/West Lafayette area: where to Purdue University Airportairport in Indiana, behind only Indianapoliscommitment includes buying tickets.potential passengers live, where they International (IND). We have aboutIts very expensive to build it and wait. are flying and what airlines they use. The 125,000 operations a year, BaxmeyerJacobs says that establishing routesresults were surprising and encouraging. reports. Purdue University educatesat LAF made sense for Southern AirwaysNearly 1,700 people a day were driving pilots, mechanics, airport directors andExpress because its catchment area isfrom LAFs catchment area to other more. We are one of the few universitiesbecoming a nexus of academics andairports to board flights. Armed with that to own and operate an airport. Aboutcompanies that want to be near Purdue.information, Haan used his airline network 1,000 students come to the largestplanning experience to identify which classroom on campus every day. Purdue University is highly rated in many academic disciplines, including aeronautics and engineering. As such, it draws students, faculty and professionals from around the world. LAF is hitting above our weightHelping airports unlock class in terms of international travel,their greatest potential.notes Baxmeyer. Purdue places nationally in the top 10 for international student enrollment and conducts research around the globe. Greater Lafayette also has a robust economy with strong travel demands, he says. Saab, Subaru, Caterpillar, GE@cmtengrs | cmtengr.comAviation, Wabash National, Rolls-Royce, Arconic, Evonik, ZF Group, Nanshan America, and now SK hynixLearn more about what CMT are based in our community andcan do for you:require quick access to an international hub such as Chicago OHare. AirportImprovement.comSeptember 2024'