New Orleans Airport Privatization
by FlyORH - October 14, 2008 2:40pm
Just read an article in Forbes that New Orleans is now also considering privatizing their airport. I can still remember in January of 2005, Robert Z Nemeth coming to my office and me having to explain what privatization and wifi was and how we should be doing both at ORH. Mr Nemeth then proceeded to tell me that 1) nothing gets done at the airport unless it goes through him and 2) direct a letter to the airport suggesting both.
I did send a letter to the airport regarding my belief that ORH should privatize the airport by conducting an RFP to long-term lease or outright sell the airport. It was noted in the minutes of the February, 2005, and dismissed as noted as “already included in the IMG scope of work.” IMG, in fact, did look report on this in their $100,000 report and dismissed it as something “a public/private partnership is not likely at this time”. I never knew how they could know this without conducting an RFP?
I wonder if Chicago Midway or New Orleans also had to go through Robert Z Nemeth to solicit bids to privatize their airports.