Director, Airline Affairs at Cityof Philadelphia

Job description

Position Summary The Director of Airline Affairs serves as the primary liaison between the Department of Aviation (DOA) and airline business partners at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). This role manages relationships with airline representatives, ensures compliance with the Airport/Airline Use & Lease Agreement (ULA), and supports negotiations for future agreements, including those tied to the Master Plan. The Director integrates commercial considerations into capital development initiatives, assessing impacts on airline leaseholds, cost per enplanement, operations, and real estate development while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. This position requires relationship management, legal expertise, and financial acumen to structure agreements that benefit both PHL and its airline partners. This role also focuses on supporting expanding air service, balancing airline needs with airport strategy, and ensuring contract compliance. The Director of Airline Affairs is a member of PHL’s Commercial team and works closely with Finance, Capital Development Group, Operations and external consultants to support strategic airline operations. Essential Functions • Implement PHL’s Strategic Plan airline-related initiatives and track and report applicable Key Performance Indicators. • Manage the day-to-day relationship between the Airport and the tenant airlines other specified airline related businesses, maintaining good communications, assisting in problem resolution and identifying solutions. • Act as a liaison between PHL and airline real estate professionals, and other signatory and non-signatory airlines serving the airport including Air Cargo and Air Freight tenants. • Advise on matters related to the airline business relationship, including potential changes in the Airport Use and Lease Agreement as well as any other leases and agreements for Airport space. • Represent the airport’s Commercial team in regular airport/airline forums i.e., PHL - PAMC, PhiliTEC etc. Coordinate with Operations and SITA on management of common use gates and ticket counters. • Partner with stakeholders in the Commercial team, including Properties, Real Estate and Air Service Development to ensure that all stakeholders are sharing information on airline concerns and opportunities. • Participate in all Airline-attending Master Plan meetings hosted by the Capital Development Group to coordinate airline needs and requests relative to development activities that may impact airline leaseholds or operational areas or could impact Use & Lease Negotiations. • Work closely with various other departments in matters related to airline activities, including growth and new entrants, to help maintain smooth operations, including any potential impacts due to construction. o Act as point person, leading cross-functional teams including Operations, Finance, IT, Law and Properties, in setting up new entrant airlines at PHL. o Partner with Properties team on airline tenant moves, space requests and construction or improvement projects. • Research terms/provisions of existing lease/use agreements, reviewing changes in regulations, codes and other programs and reading trade and government publications that focus on airline/Airport affairs and issues and directives. • Working closely with Property Management, ensure all airline agreements are properly documented in PROPworks. Utilizes PROPworks to monitor airline aging reports. Pursues all monies due to Airport. • Administer the Majority-In-Interest procedures set forth in the Airport Use & Lease Agreement to ensure that capital projects are vetted and approved by the Airport’s signatory airline partners. This process requires close collaboration with the Airport’s Executive Leadership Team and the Finance, Planning and Development divisions. • Monitor, with Property Management team, airline and airline related tenants to ensure compliance with lease, permits, rules, and regulations. •Ensure that airl