D’Leon Stepping Down As Airport Director

The Director of the New Bedford Regional Airport is stepping down.

Mayor Jon Mitchell's office announced on Wednesday that Erick D’Leon will be stepping down at the end of the month to accept a position with a Florida-based airport management firm where he previously worked.

During D’Leon’s tenure the airport saw the completion of a $12.5 million reconstruction of the airport’s primary runway and a $4.6 million reconstruction of its secondary runway.

D'Leon also implemented a series of management practices related to airport operations and developed a capital improvement plan while seeing aircraft operations increase by 12% and jet operations have increased by 25%.

“The New Bedford Regional Airport has made tremendous progress recently and Erick has played an important role in bringing the airport to the level it is operating at today," said Mayor Mitchell "under his leadership, New Bedford has pushed forward with a modernization of the airport to ensure it remains a critical component of our regional transportation infrastructure.”

The New Bedford Regional Airport Commission will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Bridgewater State University Aviation Training Center at the airport.

During the meeting the Commission will be considering various scenarios for a transition in airport management and the Mayor's office says the City Personnel Department will be conducting recruitment for candidates in applying to become the new Director.