Airport board talks marketing, new position

Officials hope to hire professional to boost sales, attract tenants

TEXARKANA, Ark. — With the new year getting closer, the Texarkana Regional Airport Authority Board’s Personnel Committee met recently to discuss potentially creating a new staff position.

Earlier this past week, Airport Director Paul Mehrlich told committee members he’s looking at hiring a professional airport marketing manager, not only to help promote and increase commercial flights and ticket sales, but also to attract potential commercial leasers, who may be interested leasing airport owned property — something which would generate revenue to help the airport become more economically self-sufficient.

“I’m looking at this new position being a combination of both airport and real estate marketing,” Mehrlich said.

Besides promoting commercial flying and land leasing, Mehrlich said the marketing manager, a position which he hopes to fill in January, will also take care of social media contacts and communications.

Along with the marketing plan, Mehrlich told committee members that airlines officials are looking at adding a daily third commercial flight back to the airport starting in late November. He added that the flight may or may not be permanent depending on commercial passenger air traffic needs.

Just prior to COVID-19, the airport had been maintaining its traditional four-flight daily schedule during the early part of this year. By April, however, concerns regarding the Coronavirus forced the airlines cut the schedule flights to just one flight per day, before a second flight could be added this past summer.

In other business, Mehrlich told committee members he is preparing to conduct annual evaluations and reviews for the airport’s nine employees. Such reviews will involve cost of living pay increases, longevity pay and merit pay.

Committee member Matt Roberson suggested that employees might be open to self-evaluations as a possible new measure in the process.