Spotlight On: Tim Kroll, Airport Director, Atlantic City International Airport

Spotlight On: Tim Kroll, Airport Director, Atlantic City International Airport

2022-10-26T11:46:41-04:00October 26th, 2022|Aviation, Economy, South Jersey, Spotlight On|

2 min read October 2022 — The Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) conducts commercial and general aviation operations, offering air travel to support commerce, tourism and the general public. In an interview with Invest:, Airport Director Tim Kroll discussed events impacting the airport, partnerships, upcoming projects, air cargo, the effects of the economic shifts on the aviation industry and the key priorities going forward.

What events have had the greatest impact on the airport?

We had high hopes for this year, it started very strong but the labor shortage in the aviation industry had a big impact on scheduled service. Airlines across the U.S. have been decreasing flight capacity. Our main commercial carrier, Spirit Airlines, has pulled back service and frequency on some routes. Fuel prices have also affected travel and costs. On a positive note, we were able to get a new service with American Airlines. It is unique: upon purchasing a ticket on their website, simply come to our airport, check-in and board a luxury bus to Philadelphia Airport (PHL), then take a plane to your final destination. It allows easy access for residents of our region to connect through PHL to over 90 domestic and international destinations. On the flip side, it also provides a much more convenient way for visitors to get to the South Jersey area. It is a way American Airlines has been able to enter this market amid the pilot shortage.

What partnerships have you made to increase tourism and economic activity at the airport?

We work with the casino properties to incentivize airlines and add more services. We work with Meet AC, who works with all the conventions in the city and we are in talks with airlines to add more air service to this region.

What are some projects in your pipeline?

We recently put out a request for proposals and our Board of Commissioners authorized us to enter negotiations with Industrial Realty Group, a large commercial developer, to develop up to 400 acres of airport property with a heavy focus on air cargo. We are beginning those negotiations and, hopefully, we’ll be executing a land lease shortly. We currently do not have cargo operations today, so this is a big step in that direction and getting a nationally known firm to develop this parcel is one of the largest projects we have going on in terms of growing the business and diversifying our revenues. 

How would you describe your process to include cargo services? 

We’ve worked on this for years. The parcel of land had a lot of environmental concerns, and we’ve been working through those and have reached a time when we can put the parcel out for proposals. I would also say the supply chain issues and the emergence of e-commerce in the area and across the world have been impactful. Air cargo is generally more expensive but is much faster and more reliable. We are conveniently located in the Northeast, the most heavily populated region in the country. We have some benefits because we are not in the busy Philadelphia and New York City airspace, we control our own airspace, so we don’t have airspace delays. We also have a good runway structure and we recognized that this is a good time to get into air cargo.

Looking at the current economic situation, what is your take on the potential economic slowdown?

We are concerned the region relies heavily on tourism and people who have disposable income to visit. The good news is Spirit Airlines is ultra-low cost, so even if the fares increase, it will probably be low enough to still incentivize travelers to use ACY. We were named one of the airports with the lowest airfares in the nation and that will help in case of an economic downturn. 

What do you think the next two to three years are going to be like and what are your priorities for this period?

JetBlue is under an agreement to purchase Spirit Airlines and we don’t know what that will mean for us, as it is our main commercial service. We are looking to stabilize our air service, grow upon it and add international services. In the past, we had a Cancun service and now we are looking to enter some Canadian markets and bring some international travelers into the region. Lastly, we are working with a developer to get our cargo facilities built so we can start moving international cargo.

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https://www.sjta.com/

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