Brian Ryks, Executive Director and CEO of the Minneapolis Metropolitan Airports Commission (the MAC) discusses with Guest Host Bill Raker the MSP operations before and during the Pandemic. Brian, in his position since 2016, explains the role and extent of the “airport system” serving the Greater Twin Cities communities and the state. Brian oversees a staff of some 650 and manages an annual operating budget of $400 million. MSP is the 17th largest airport in the U.S. handling some 40 million travelers a year, supporting 86,000 operation-related jobs, and processing $16 billion per year through the local economy. MSP has been named the Best Airport in North America (not just the US) for its size for four consecutive years through surveys conducted by the Airports Council International. MSP has the most extensive noise abatement program among all airports in the nation, having invested over a half-billion dollars to mitigate noise over the communities around the airport. MSP operates as a P&L business without any tax-payer funding. The number of travelers passing through MSP dropped by some 90% at the beginning of the Pandemic, resulting in a major negative impact on revenue and services. Brian explains the numerous extensive measures MSP has taken to help ensure the safety of passengers using the airport.
