Salt Lake airport chief takes Maryland job

The man who made a post-9/11 Salt Lake City International Airport the nation's first to screen 100 percent of checked baggage, fought to keep the city as a Delta Air Lines hub and battled the federal government over eastern flight paths is stepping down.

Tim Campbell, executive director of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports, is leaving to become the executive director of the Maryland Aviation Administration, overseeing Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Martin State Airport.

Maryland Transportation Secretary Robert L. Flanagan said in a statement that Campbell's "skills and experience will ensure BWI's continued position as the economic engine and world-class international airport gateway for the state of Maryland."

In Salt Lake City the mood was more somber, since Campbell is generally considered one of the best hiring decisions Mayor Rocky Anderson has made. The 31-year aviation industry veteran took over managing Utah's largest airport in 2000 — the same year Anderson took office.

"Tim did an exceptional job running the airport," said Anderson, who is in Australia, in a statement. "His leadership and industry experience have been a major asset to the city. We will miss him tremendously."

Besides being instrumental in making sure all checked luggage was screened at the airport ahead of the 2002 Winter Games and directing airport preparations for the Olympics, Campbell has overseen $100 million in renovation and expansion projects at the airport. He also has helped steer the airport's growth with a new terminal redesign plan that focuses more on smaller regional jets rather than bigger ones.

His greatest accomplishment, however, may have been his efforts to keep the airport competitive in a financially troubled industry by ensuring that landing fees in Salt Lake City are among the nation's lowest.

Under his tenure the Delta Air Lines hub has seen the airport's largest carrier increase service from Salt Lake City, while cutting service at other hub airports across the nation. Many industry analysts felt Delta's restructuring earlier this year — a move that unsuccessfully tried to keep the airline from bankruptcy — would have negative impacts on service in Salt Lake City. Instead Delta expanded service here.

"I really do think (the low landing fees) helped us with Delta in terms of them increasing routes in Salt Lake City," Campbell said. "Clearly that held us in the game when Delta's been going through their financial problems."