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[andersona1]

Windsor Locks, CT

 

August 4, 2009

 

By James Cooper

 

Standing just below the new West Concourse Terminal for Air Express at Bradley International Airport, Neals Carter watches as a 737-800 lands on the runway. Just a few years ago, Carter, CEO of Air Express sought out to launch a state of the art airline. Working to make the fleet state of the art was no easy task. For many years, he worked with multiple manufacturers, and sought after routes not served. Early last year the company initiated a strategic and controversial goal. After having additional funding opportunities open to him, and investments from various firms, the company was able to walk away with $1 billion in financing to help position itself as the next big thing in aviation in the United States.

 

This turn around was no small achievement. The company closed various terminals and hubs in the Western United States, an overly saturated market, and moved its operations east. Building and opening a terminal at Nashville International Airport. This required the company to shed old aircraft leases losing almost half of its fleet, and take charges that hurt the companies bottom line. After more than a year of negative growth, and continual plane delays, the company started operating its new 737-700's. With the addition of the 19 other 737-700's the company focused on major routes and service corridors that it could offer from Nashville. Soon the company realized that it could not just focus from one destination, and a new expansion would take place.

 

"Sometimes you have to walk out on a limb, knowing that its going to be the best option, but realizing not everyone will see it," Carter said as he gave me a tour of the new recently opened West Concourse Terminal. The Security in the terminal is top of the line. There are Cameras that cover every square foot of the terminal, and Air Express pays to monitor the safety of its passengers. In addition, the company has teamed with the Department of Homeland Security to setup Body Scanners for help detecting hidden objects passengers may attempt to smuggle on. 

 

I asked Neals how he is responding to the criticism that closing of the West Coast caused more harm than good to the companies image. "Shortly after 9-11 most airliners were downsizing and constricting due to the flow of passengers and the fear that that created. We made it known that our reasons behind the move was for our passengers. Our passengers are the key to why we are here. Some have been hurt by our actions in the past few years, but our ability to serve them is hindered if we are not able to make a profit and gain ground with the industry, by using new technology, opening more routes, and serving more communities. That being said, the West Coast still is a viable option for us in the future. I would love to be able to re-establish that base, as my hometown is in California, but right now we have to focus on keeping the company going, and financing the expansion towards our goal of being the best airline in the United States."

 

As the plane taxi's in, Neals is key to point out the various safety features of the jets in service, as well as the fleets age. "We focus only on Boeing Aircraft and as such are able to negotiate better deals, and purchase our planes outright. As a result none of our aircraft is more than 4 years old," he says as the ground crew starts getting the jet ready to disembark. "We take pride on being a family friendly flight, so we don't serve Alcohol on the plane, and most of our travels within the United States are within 3-4 hours so kids don't get too rowdy," Anderson said as he welcomed the individuals on the plane to Conneticut.

 

In the following 30 minutes, I saw something that most CEO's would never be able to say, he greated and welcomed each individual back to the ground safely, and then turned his attention to the crew in the plane. Making sure they were feelign welcomed, and appreciated, as well as picking up the cabin readying the flight for the next set of travelers. Overall the plane would be turned over 5 times today, and the travel back to Nashville would be a smooth one, and luckily for Anderson would get him home in time for dinner later this evening with his family, but not before he shook hands with the Flight Crew, and grabbed the candy wrapper on the ground.