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Fayetteville Regional Airport selects new airport director; receives $5M grant for international terminal

By Staff Report, posted Aug 28, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

The City of Fayetteville has selected a new Airport Director to lead the regional airport into the next chapter beginning Oct. 2. 

Andrew LaGala, aviation operation and management professional, was selected as the new Fayetteville Regional Airport Director after an exhaustive 11-month search.  

LaGala has over 30 years of experience in the aviation field and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He holds a private pilot’s license and is a member of the American Association of Airport Executives, receiving his professional designation of Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) in 2018. 

“I am excited to have been selected to assume this critical leadership role as airport director of Fayetteville Regional Airport and to contribute to the airport’s continued success and growth,” said LaGala in a press release. “Maintaining an efficient full-service airport with quality airline service is a key element in local economic development efforts, and I see tremendous opportunity for FAY to enhance its potential to contribute to those efforts.” 

LaGala most recently served as the Airport Director for Lynchburg Regional Airport for the last five years. He spearheaded several efforts in that role including a post-COVID development

strategic plan to recover airline flight frequency, rehabilitated the primary runway at Lynchburg Regional Airport and enacting many other airport capital improvement projects. 

“Andrew’s knowledge of both airport operations and air service development will serve the airport well in our future expansion efforts,” shared City Manager Douglas Hewett in a press release. “We've already completed more than $60 million in capital improvements over the last several years, were able to secure two additional flights to Atlanta, received $5 million for an international terminal and will break ground on a consolidated rental car facility shortly.”

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