Episode 52 Larry Blackwell - ”Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home”

Larry Blackwell, Director of Airports for Shreveport Airport Authority, sits down with Jeffrey Goodman, Director of Marketing and Development for the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana, to answer the following questions:

 

0:36 1. Larry, on August 23, 2022, you became the Director of Airports for Shreveport Airport Authority and very positive change is already underway.

 

To name but a few things, both concourses have new flooring making it easier to roll bags. Both concourses and passenger bridges are currently being painted. You have also announced that three national brands are coming to the airport.

 

Let’s start here today. What are the restaurants, where in the airport will they be located and when do you expect them to open?

 

3:04 2. Other great progress has been happening at Shreveport Regional Airport. You saw a 11% increase in travelers compared to 2021. Delta and American have both upgraded their aircrafts flown in Shreveport to larger planes. And you are in talks to add new routes and possibly new carriers.

 

I saw an interview recently with you where you referred to a Leakage Study and the fact that 46% of passengers drive to Dallas to fly rather than fly out of Shreveport Regional. Why is this? Talk to me about that statistic and how it impacts our ability to obtain new routes and new carriers.

 

10:05 3. Talk to me about some of the new routes we might see in the future.

 

13:28 4. One common theme of this podcast is looking at our identity, trying to better understand who we are as a community and how we can elevate our image both for ourselves and those coming to town to visit.

 

In my opinion, the airport is a major piece in establishing community pride for our residents as well as our visitors.

 

How do you see the role of the airport with regards to boosting community pride and helping to create a more positive self-image?

 

18:33 5. You were born in Homer, Louisiana, grew up in Bossier City and graduated from Bossier High School. You then went away for a number of years working in numerous different places before returning to live here.

 

I’m always curious what this community looks like from a fresh set of eyes. I want to look at both the negatives and positives with you.

 

First, when you returned here, what aspects of the community looked more challenged than they were when you grew up here?

 

21:02 6. On the flip side, what aspects of the community struck you as having progressed in a positive way since you lived here?