3 days ago
Malafronte to be nominated as next director at Manchester airport
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais this week will nominate Tom Malafronte to serve as the next airport director at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.
The nomination is expected to be made at Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Malafronte has been serving as deputy director of the airport since 2015, and as acting airport director since early April. Ted Kitchens announced in March that he would be leaving his post as director of aviation on April 4.
Malafronte has been with MHT for 35 years, serving in seven different roles. In addition to deputy director, Malafronte has served as manager of airport operations and facilities, assistant director of air service development, marketing and public relations.
Ruais said Malafronte started as a maintenance specialist doing everything from "inspecting aircrafts to operating snowplows for the runways," working his way up to deputy director.
"He is a foundational guy who knows the airport from top to bottom," Ruais said. "That type of experience is hard to come by these days and is deeply valued. Tom is also a true aviation professional with broad knowledge of the industry. He has my full support as our new director.
"I am confident he is the right person to the lead MHT at this time.'
Kitchens guided the airport through the pandemic and helped draw new airlines to Manchester in recent years.
'I have accomplished the goals that I had when I arrived six years ago: the airport is financially stable; we have been able to attract new air service for the airport, as exemplified by the recent commitment made by JetBlue; and to build organizational resiliency that enabled us to not only survive the pandemic, but to come out of the period in a stronger situation,' Kitchens said in his resignation letter to city officials.
Kitchens was the highest-paid city employee, earning nearly $250,000 in Fiscal Year 2023. That same year Malafronte was paid $158,993.
Ruais praised what Kitchens accomplished for Manchester.
Kitchens 'has attracted five airlines, constructed a 64,000-square-foot cargo warehouse used by Amazon that created 300 full-time jobs for Manchester residents, tripled the amount of federal funding for capital development projects, diversified airport revenue streams, and restructured 70% of its long-term debt,' the mayor said in a statement.
'His tenure will be most remembered for bringing JetBlue to the airport, along with its $48 million investment,' Ruais said.
Kitchens said he plans to 'pursue new horizons and turn the airport over to new management to build upon the sound foundation that exists.'
'New leadership can bring a new vision and strategies that will continue the Airport on its current positive trajectory,' Kitchens wrote.
In May the Department of Business and Economic Affairs honored Kitchens with its Collaborator of the Year award at its annual tourism summit. The award, presented by Commissioner Taylor Caswell, recognizes strong commitment and exceptional support to the state in advancing tourism and economic development.
'Ted provides a great example of how vision turns into reality,' Caswell said. 'Beyond attracting five airlines to the airport, he successfully led Manchester-Boston Regional Airport through a pandemic and poised it for further growth.'
