>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR THE SECOND HALF.

WE CALL THIS NEXT UP.

WE INTERVIEW COMMUNITY LEADERS AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE HEAD OF OUR OWN AIRPORT, LAMBERT FIELD, LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL, RHONDA HAMM-NIEBRUEGGE IS WITH US TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF THE AIRPORT.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON AS WE WELCOME YOU TO NEXT UP ON NINE PBS.

HELLO, RHONDA.

>> HI, CHARLIE.

HI, BILL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME.

LAST WEEK, YOU ANNOUNCED A MAJOR PLAN WHICH WILL, AMONG OTHER THINGS, COMBINE THE TWO TERMINALS INTO ONE WITH MORE THAN 60 GATES.

IT'S GOT A LONG TIME HORIZON, BUT YOU'RE STARTING THE PLANNING FOR WHAT WILL BE A MAJOR RENOVATION AT LAMBERT.

>> WE ARE.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THE FAA SAYS EVERY DECADE OR SO YOU HAVE TO DO.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, THEY REVIEW THEM AND THEY GET PUT ON THE SHELF, BUT I THINK IT'S TIME AS WE COME OUT OF THIS ONE AND GET IT APPROVED FROM THE FAA, WE REALLY START THE PROCESS OF THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE AIRPORT AND WHERE WE GO.

IT IS AN OLDER FACILITY AND THE MAINTENANCE ON THAT IS QUITE A BIT, SO AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO START THE PROCESS.

>> RHONDA, ARE YOU GETTING ANY OF THE COVID MONEY, ALL THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS THAT ARE COMING IN OR ANY OF THE RAMS MONEY?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'LL BE GETTING ANY OF THE RAMS MONEY.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE AN ENTERPRISE FUND AT THE AIRPORT.

THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, WE DID GET RELIEF MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT CAME TO THE AIRPORT THAT WAS TO KEEP EMPLOYEES ON THE RAIRL.

IT WAS TO MAKE -- ON THE PAYROLL.

IT WAS TO MAKE SURE WE WERE PROVIDING ALL THE SAFETY PROTOCOLS, THE ENHANCING FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE.

AND THEN ALSO TO PAY YOUR DEBTS.

SO WE STILL HAVE SOME MONEY COMING IN FROM THAT THAT WE HAVE NOT USED.

I THINK WE STILL HAVE ABOUT $60 MILLION THAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO USE OF THAT MONEY TO PAY OUR DEBT, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT A PROJECT LIKE THIS AND THE MAGNITUDE OF A PROJECT LIKE THIS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHERE DOES ALL THE FUNDING COME FROM.

SO FOR A BUILD, SOMEONE LIKE THIS, TYPICALLY WE DO RAISE SOME CHARGES.

YOUR AIR CARRIERS IS THE WAY THE TERMINAL GETS PAID FOR.

WITH THAT, WE HAVE PASSENGER FACILITY CHARGES THAT WE CAN USE AND THEN YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE BE ABLE TO USE THOSE AS WELL AS WE TAKE THOSE IN OVER TIME.

AND WITH THE CURRENT FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THERE IS MONEY ALLOCATED STRICTLY FOR TERMINALS, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.

IT'S ONLY 5 BILLION FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY, BUT WE WOULD LOOK TO SEE, ONCE THE RULES COME OUT ON THAT, DO WE IF IT IN THAT AS WELL FROM A TIMING PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UPCOMING TALKS, NEGOTIATIONS, AND THINGS TO WORK THROUGH WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS TO SEE IF THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE WOULD HOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF -- LOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BILL DOLLARS FROM A FEDERAL PERSPECTIVE.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A TERMINAL 2 WHERE SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IS AND TERMINAL 1 WHERE THE OTHER AIRLINES GENERALLY ARE.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN WALK BETWEEN THEM RIGHT NOW, YOU GOT TO TAKE A SHUTTLE.

YOU WOULD ELIMINATE THE BIFURCATION AND JUST HAVE ONE GIANT TERMINAL.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, OVER THE YEARS, TERMINAL 2 WAS BUILT BECAUSE THERE WAS A NEED TO EXPAND WHEN WE HAD THE LARGE TWA HERE AND THAT WE WERE BUSTING AT THE SEAMS.

SO AS THEY BUILT IT, THE ONLY WAY TO EXPAND AT THE TIME WAS A SECONDARY TERMINAL AND THEN THAT CORRIDOR WAS BUILT TO ULTIMATELY CONNECT THEM AND YOU'RE CORRECT, CHARLIE.

RIGHT NOW, PART OF THAT IS STILL SHUT OFF.

YOU CAN'T WALK THROUGH.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AVIATION AND THE WAY THE INDUSTRY IS GOING AND THE EFFICIENCIES OF IT, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF TERMINAL MAKES THE MOST SENSE.

AND FOR OUR CONSUMERS HERE, WE HAVE FOUR SEPARATE CHECKPOINTS.

A LOT OF THE TERMINALS IN TODAY'S ENVIRONMENT, YOU GO THROUGH A SINGLE CHECKPOINT.

THAT'S EFFICIENCY IN TERMS OF TSA STAFFING AND SAVINGS THERE.

THE OTHER PIECE YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS THE REDUNDANCY OF SYSTEMS.

BECAUSE THERE'S TWO SEPARATE TERMINALS, EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN BAG SYSTEM, EACH TERMINAL HAS THEIR OWN BACKUP GENERATORS.

ALL THOSE THINGS COULD BE MORE EFFICIENT IF YOU LOOK AT A SINGULAR TERMINAL AND IF YOU WERE ABLE TO COMBINE EVERYTHING FROM A PASSENGER CONVENIENCE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DONE, AND THERE'S ANOTHER SURVEY COMING OUT, WE SURVEYED THE PUBLIC.

WE PUT IT OUT ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AND WE SHARED IT WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO SEND OUT TO THEIR MEMBERS AND CONSISTENTLY WE HEARD FROM THE PUBLIC, IF YOU DO ANYTHING, PUT BACK ONE TERMINAL.

SO I THINK IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, AND ONE OF THEM IS JUST THE EFFICIENCY YOU GAIN IN A SINGLE TERMINAL VERSUS HAVING TWO SEPARATE.

>> YOU KNOW, CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AGAIN WITH A DIRECT FLIGHT TO FRANKFURT, AND DAVID NICHOLAS OF THE POST-DISPATCH WROTE A STORY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SUBSIDIES THAT YOU HAD TO GIVE TO LUFTHANA, I CAN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE THE AIRLINE, THE GERMAN AIRLINE.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT 40% OF THE DEALS MADE WITH SUBSIDIES END WHEN THE SUBSIDIES END, WHICH I THINK IS LIKE FIVE YEARS.

ARE YOU HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL HAVE ENOUGH TRAFFIC TO FRANKFURT THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP THAT ROUTE GOING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, IF WE LOOK AT OUR NUMBERS IN 2019 PRE-PANDEMIC, ON A DAILY BASIS, WE HAD 385 PEOPLE A DAY GOING INTO EUROPE.

NOT ALL OF THEM WENT TO THE SAME DESTINATION, BUT THEY WERE GOING INTO EUROPE.

NOW, THE SUMMER THAT PICKED UP THAT AROUND 450.

DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THAT MAY HAVE PEAKED DOWN TO 260 OR 250, BUT YES, THAT IS A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ON A DAILY BASIS GOING INTO EUROPE TO SUPPORT THIS FLIGHT.

THE CHALLENGE THAT THE CARRIERS HAVE ALWAYS HAD, AFTER THE LARGE LEGACY CARRIERS DECIDED TO REALLY JUST PUT THEIR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY AT THEIR LARGE HUBS, LIKE THE DALLAS, THE CHICAGOS, THE NEW YORKS, THE MIAMIS OF THE WORLD, WAS THE EUROPEAN CARRIERS REALLY STARTED LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES TO SAY IT DOES MAKE SENSE FOR US AND CAN WE GO THERE, BUT IT'S A BIG RISK.

IT'S A BIG INVESTMENT FOR AN AIRLINE TO DO THAT.

SO SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHEN THIS TREND STARTED OF SOME OF THE EUROPEAN CARRIERS, AND WE'RE OPEN TO LOOKING AT U.S. CITIES THAT ARE MEDIUM-SIZED HUBS, BUT WE NEED SOME SUPPORT IN THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS WHILE WE BUILD THE MARKET.

THE MARKET IS HERE.

THE SUPPORT FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS IS TO REALLY HELP THEM GET THE BASE OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL GIVE UP THEIR LOYALTY TO OTHER CARRIERS, WHO ARE USED TO FLYING ON A STATUS LEVEL WITH ONE OF THE OTHER LEGACY CARRIERS, AND STILL WANT TO CONNECT THROUGH A CHICAGO, A DALLAS, A MIAMI.

SO THEY NEED TO BUILD THAT MARKET AND GARNER THOSE 385 PEOPLE A DAY.

THE FLIGHT WILL HOLD 289 PEOPLE, SO THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THIS REGION TO FILL THAT FLIGHT ONCE WE GET PAST THE PANDEMIC.

AND THAT WAS THE OTHER THING.

THEY INITIALLY LOOKED AT, WELL, WE CAN COME IN FIVE DAYS A WEEK BECAUSE THEY CAN SUPPORT THAT, BUT WITH THE PANDEMIC, SCALING THAT BACK TO START WITH THREE TO SEE HOW THEY COULD GO WITH THE PANDEMIC AND DO THE LOADS COME.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT.

THIS REGION CAN SUPPORT IT, THE NUMBERS ARE THERE TO SUPPORT IT, AND THE REAL ASK IS DURING THOSE FIRST FEW YEARS, JUST HELP BUILD THE LOYALTY AND HELP BUILD THE CONSUMERS TO SAY YES, WE'LL TAKE THE NONSTOP.

>> MIKE BOYD, A NATIONAL AVIATION CONSULTANT, HAS TOLD US THAT HE BELIEVES, BEFORE LONG, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT A NONSTOP FROM ST. LOUIS TO LONDON.

DO YOU SEE ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE WORKS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK -- OUR FOCUS IS TO MAKE THIS ONE SUCCESSFUL.

I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD RIGHT NOW TO TRY AND ENTERTAIN TWO TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AND FOR US, THE BIGGER GOAL IS TO GET THIS TO FIVE DAYS A WEEK AND THEN DAILY SERVICE.

OBVIOUSLY IN JUNE, WE'RE STARTING WITH THREE.

SO WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN GET DAILY SERVICE.

WE THINK THE NUMBERS ARE THERE, AND I THINK THE INTENTION FOR LUFTHANSA AND US BOTH HERE AT THE AIRPORT IS TO GROW IT ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THERE'S DAILY SERVICE.

AND IF THE REGION CONTINUES TO GROW AND PARTNERS CONTINUE TO GROW OUT HERE, THEN DOWN THE ROAD, I THINK THAT OPTION FOR OTHER CARRIERS MAY BE VIBE -- MAY BE VIABLE, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HARD WITH TWO COMING IN INITIALLY, TRYING TO MAKE THAT WORK.

>> RHONDA, NOT LONG AGO, WE HAD A BIG DEBATE GOING ON ABOUT PRIVATIZATION.

YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE SELL THE AIRPORT TO A PRIVATE COMPANY AND GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF CASH AND LET THEM RUN IT, OR SHOULD WE NOT.

WE CHOSE NOT TO.

DID WE MISS AN OPPORTUNITY OR DODGE A BULLET?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T TAKEN A STAND ON THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS MY PLACE TO TAKE A STAND.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THE CITY WANTED TO ENTERTAIN, SO WE WORKED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I DO BELIEVE THAT AN AIRPORT IS A REGION'S -- ONE OF THE REGION'S, IN WOULD THE THE GREATEST ASSET THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S A PUBLIC UTILITY THAT'S HERE TO SERVE THE CONSUMERS.

SO I THINK BEING ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS BIT REGION, BY THE CITY OBVIOUSLY OWNS IT, TO ME, MAKES A LOT OF SENSE VERSUS TURNING DECISION-MAKING POWER OVER TO SOMEONE ELSE.

SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PROS AND CONS OF EVERYTHING, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I'M PROBABLY PARTIAL TO THE AIRPORT, BUT I THINK FOR US, BEING ABLE TO HAVE IT REMAIN AS AN ASSET THAT IS RUN HERE, IT MAKES MORE SENSE.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT IN ALL THE DISCUSSION OF THE NEW TERMINAL AND LUFTHANSA AND OTHER ISSUES, THAT WE'RE KIND OF FORGETTING THAT SPIRIT SEEMS TO BE GROWING ITS PRESENCE IN ST. LOUIS.

NONSTOP TO LOS ANGELES AND ALSO SOME NONSTOP TO VARIOUS FLORIDA CITIES RIGHT NOW.

>> NO, THAT'S BEEN A GREAT ADD.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS, WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SPIRIT FOR A DECADE ON COMING TO ST. LOUIS.

IF WE THINK BACK TO 10, 12 YEARS AGO, WE WERE A HIGHER COST AIRPORT.

WE HAD BEEN THE HUB -- EXCUSE ME, WE HAVE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS, I'M SORRY.

IF WE DON'T MOVE, THEY GO OFF.

SO WE WERE A HIGH-COST AIRPORT AND FOR SOME OF THE ULTRA LOW-COST CARRIERS, THAT WAS A DETERRENT FOR THEM COMING IN.

SO WHAT WE WORKED VERY HARD ON IS BRINGING THOSE COSTS DOWN, BEING MORE FINANCIALLY SUSTAINABLE AND BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT ALL CARRIERS, THE LEGACY CARRIERS, CARRIERS LIKE SOUTHWEST THAT REALLY AREN'T ULTRA LOW COST, BUT THEY'RE NOT QUITE A LEGACY CARRIER EITHER, AND BEING ABLE TO BRING IN THESE NEW ULTRA LOW COST CARRIERS LIKE FRONTIER AND SPIRIT.

WE'RE NOW VERY COMPETITIVE.

WE HAVE A VERY COMPETITIVE COST STRUCTURE AND I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY CAME IN.

WE REALLY FELT THAT THEY WOULD COME IN PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, AND THEN THE PANDEMIC HIT AND THAT SLOWED, BUT AS WE WORKED WITH THEM AND AS WE TALKED WITH THEM, THEY REALLY SAW THE VALUE OF COMING TO ST. LOUIS.

AND THEY'RE QUITE HAPPY.

THEY INITIALLY STARTED WITH THE FIVE MARKETS EVEN BEFORE THE FIRST FLIGHTS STARTED, THEY ANNOUNCED THEY WERE GOING TO NINE DESTINATIONS, SO THEY'RE OPERATING LARGE AIRCRAFT AS WELL.

THERE'S 186 PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF EVERY ONE OF THOSE FLIGHTS, SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE FLIGHTS A DAY, YOU TAKE THAT TIMES ALMOST 400 PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PASSENGERS.

AND THEY'RE FLYING A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM A FURTHER MSA, SO FROM THE CAPE AREA, FROM THE SPRINGFIELD AREA, JOPLIN AREA, PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING BECAUSE IT'S A VERY AFFORDABLE WAY TO GET TO LEISURE MARKETS AND THEIR FOCUS IS OBVIOUSLY MOSTLY ON THE LEISURE MARKETS THAT THEY TRAVEL TO.

THEY ARE DOING L.A. FLIGHTS WHICH IS A COMBINATION USUALLY OF BOTH BUSINESS AND LEISURE, BUT THEY'RE DOING VERY WELL.

THEY'RE VERY HAPPY HERE.

I THINK WE'LL CONTINUE TO SEE GROWTH WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE TOO.

>> YOU KNOW, RHONDA, ANOTHER STORY THAT CAME AND WENT AND THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT WAS THE CHINA HUB STORY.

>> MM-HMM.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY, SO WE ARE PERFECTLY POSITIONED TO HAVE A HUB FOR CHINA, AND CHINA WAS GOING TO BE SENDING ALL THIS MATERIAL HERE.

EVERYBODY SEEMED TO THINK IT WAS A GREAT IDEA, AND THEN IT SEEMED TO FADE AWAY.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CHINA HUB THEORY?

>> WELL, WE STILL HAVE AN INTERNATIONAL CAUSO THAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND A LITTLE OF OUR CHALLENGE WAS CALLING IT A CHINA HUB.

I THINK AT THE TIME IF WE HAD BEEN MORE STRATEGIC, WE COVER TALKED ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL CARGO HUB AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU LOOK AT FROM INTERNATIONAL CARGO IS YOU HAVE THE BELLY CARGO, WHICH IS IN THE PASSENGER AIRPLANES AND THEY'RE LARGE AIRPLANES, BUT THEY'RE ABLE TO FILL UP THOSE BELLIES AND THEN YOU HAVE DEDICATED FREIGHTERS COMING IN.

SO WE, WITHOUT HAVING INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER ACTIVITY, REALLY COULDN'T COMPETE WITH THE BELLY ACTIVITY.

SO WE WERE LOOKING AT THESE PURE DEDICATED FREIGHTERS, 100% OF THE AIRPLANE COMING IN IS A FREIGHTER AIRPLANE.

AND YOU'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THAT HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE NEED FOR PRODUCT TO MOVE EVERYWHERE GLOBALLY.

SO ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE LOOKED AT WITH THAT WAS TRYING TO MOVE THE LIVE ANIMAL SHIPMENTS.

SO THERE IS A HUGE TREND OF OTHER COUNTRIES BUYING OUR BEEF AND OUR PORK HERE, NOT TO SLAUGHTER OR TO BUTCHER, BUT TO BE ABLE TO GROW THEIR STOCK AND BE ABLE TO HAVE LIFE -- HAVE LIVESTOCK THAT THEY CAN EVENTUALLY PRODUCE FOR THEIR PEOPLE.

SO THAT'S A LARGE COMOD IT DOES AND WE DID GET APPROVED BY THE USDA FOR LIVE ANIMAL SHIPMENTS.

THE BIGGEST ONE IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW IS CHICAGO, BUT THOSE ARE DEDICATED FREIGHTERS THAT ARE FULL OF LIVESTOCK AND THAT'S A PIECE OF THAT MARKET THAT'S KIND OF A NICHE.

LAST YEAR WE HAD A NUMBER OF THOSE SUCCESSFUL FLIGHTS, AND I THINK WE'LL SEE MORE OF THOSE COMING IN.

OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO ENHANCE THAT MARKET AND ENHANCE A LITTLE BIT THE FACILITY THAT WE HAVE, SO IT BECOMES A PRIMARY PREFERRED FACILITY AND GARNER THAT PIECE OF FREIGHT ACTIVITY.

IT'S 747 AIRCRAFT, SO IT'S ALL LARGE AIRCRAFT WHICH BRINGS IN A REALLY NICE MONEY EVERY TIME THEY LAND.

THE OTHER PIECE WITH GETTING LUFTHANSA AS A PASSENGER, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT BELLY CARGO GROW ON THE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A -- WHEN YOU HAVE AN A330, A 767 OR A 747, YOU HAVE A LOT OF CARGO SPACE, SO WE'RE WORKING ALREADY WITH THE FREIGHT FORWARDERS HERE AND THE DIFFERENT CORPORATIONS TO BRING THAT PRODUCT THAT'S NOW GOING ON FLIGHTS OUT OF O'HARE, BRING THAT HERE AND BOOK IT ON THE LUFTHANSA FLIGHT.

IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO HELP MAKE THAT FLIGHT VERY SUCCESSFUL IF WE CAN GET A LARGE CARGO HOLD AREA.

SO TO ME, CARGO IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF GROWTH OF THIS AIRPORT, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY, AND I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP FOCUSING ON THAT IN EVERY INCREMENT THAT WE CAN.

>> DO OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT, ASIDE FROM BUSINESS PERSONS IN FRANKFURT OR CARGO, YOU KNOW, LIVE ANIMALS OR OTHERS, FROM GERMANY, DO WE THINK THAT GERMAN TOURISTS WILL COME TO ST. LOUIS AND DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S ANY WAY THAT WE COULD MARKET OURSELVES OR MAYBE SEND A MESSAGE TO GERMANY THAT, HEY, IT'S WORTH GETTING ON A PLANE AND COMING TO ST. LOUIS?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK SO.

WE HAVE THE SISTER CITY PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE A SISTER CITY IN GERMANY.

I THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND THAT ENTITY IS ALWAYS TRYING TO BRING CITIZENS HERE FROM GERMANY AND ALSO OBVIOUSLY OUR CITIZENS OVER.

WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH EXPLORE ST. LOUIS, THAT TOURISM ARM, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY PROMOTE THE REGION AND PROMOTE BRINGING EVERYONE IN HERE, SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY CLOSELY WITH BRIAN HALL AND THEIR TEAM AS THEY TRY AND PROMOTE THIS REGION.

AND I THINK IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT JUST FROM A PURE STATE PERSPECTIVE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO VISIT THE U.S. AND YOU WANT TO LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CITIES, THIS IS A GREAT MACE TO COME.

AND WITH THE HERITAGE THAT WE HAVE HERE FROM GERMANY, YOU'VE GOT THE WINE COUNTRY, YOU HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED BASED ON THE IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME HERE FROM GERMANY, I THINK PEOPLE COULD COME HERE AND SAY LET'S TAKE THE STOP TO ST. LOUIS AND FROM HERE, YOU CAN HOP ON SOUTHWEST OR ONE OF THE OTHER CARRIERS AND LOOK AT ONE OF THE OTHER MARKET.

YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SEEING NEW YORK OR SAN FRANCISCO OR L.A. OR SOMETHING.

I THINK THIS WILL HELP GROW THAT.

I DON'T THINK THAT COMES NECESSARILY.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS AS YOU TRY AND FILL THIS MARKET, YOU ALSO TRY AND MARK IT AS A TOURISM PLACE.

WE KNOW THAT THE BUSINESS TRACK IS GOING TO BE HERE.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE THIS FLIGHT ACTIVITY BASED ON HAVING THE NORTH AMERICAN HEADQUARTERS HERE FOR BAYER.

WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR A NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE GERMAN ROOTS OR HEADQUARTERS IN GERMANY.

WE THINK FROM A BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE IT'S GOING TO BE VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WE HEARD THAT FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I THINK FROM THE LEISURE SIDE, THAT'S THE PIECE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GROW A LITTLE BIT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, BOTH FROM A REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE WITH OUR ENTITIES THAT SUPPORT TOURISM AND ALSO FROM A STATE PERSPECTIVE, GETTING INVOLVED IN THEIR MARKETING EFFORTS WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO SELL THE STATE OF MISSOURI TO OTHER EUROPEAN MARKETS.

WE'LL BE A PART OF THAT AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A CRITICAL PIECE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND I THINK IT CERTAINLY HAS AN ADVANTAGE.

>> OKAY.

HOW ABOUT RESTAURANTS, RHONDA?

RESTAURANTS IN THE TERMINAL.

WHEN WE WERE A HUB CITY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LAYOVERS HERE AND MAYBE IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT.

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE IN AN AIRPORT AND WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE NEW TERMINAL?

>> WELL, THEY'RE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, CHARLIE.

THEY BRING IN A TREMENDOUS SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR THE AIRPORT.

ALL THE REVENUE THAT WE BRING IN HELPS LOWER OUR COSTS SO WE CAN BE MORE COST COMPETITIVE TO THE AIRLINES.

AND ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAD WHEN WE WERE A LARGE HUB WAS WE DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE, AND QUITE HONESTLY, THE OFFERINGS THAT WE HAD WERE PRETTY LIMITED AT THE TIME.

SO WE DID START A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE REHAB OF THE PROGRAM THAT WE HAD FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND RETAIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO.

WE ALSO KNEW HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BRING IN LOCALS.

WE THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THE LOCAL PRODUCTS AND THEY LIKE BEING LOCAL, SO WE HAVE BRANCHED OUT AND EXPANDED THE RESTAURANTS.

WE'VE ALMOST DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF RESTAURANTS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE VENUES THAT WE HAVE BOTH IN TERMINAL 1 AND TERMINAL 2, WE TRIED TO DIVERSIFY THE OFFERINGS.

WE HAVE WINE BARS, A GREAT PRODUCT.

WE'VE THREE TEAMS, A LOCAL PRODUCT.

WE HAVE THE PASTA HOUSE, WE HAVE THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT REALLY PEOPLE CAN RECOGNIZE AND SAY THIS IS ST. LOUIS.

AND WE WANT TO DO MORE OF THAT.

AS WE LOOKED AT THE SURVEYS THAT WE HAD FOR OUR EXERCISE OF THIS STRATEGIC AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN, THAT WAS ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT CAME BACK VERY LOUD AND CLEAR WAS THAT THE CONSUMERS WANT TO SEE MORE LOCAL RESTAURANTS.

THEY WANT TO SEE MORE OFFERINGS OF RESTAURANTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IN TERMINAL 2, THERE REALLY IS NOWHERE TO ADD ANYTHING.

I MEAN, WE ARE JAM PACKED DOWN THERE.

IN TERMINAL 1, WE STILL ARE LOOKING AT COUPLE MORE OPTIONS THIS YEAR NOW THAT WE'RE ADDING LUFRT HAND IS AN AND NOW -- LUFTHANSA AND NOW THAT SPIRIT IS COMING TO THE FURTHER END OF THE CONCOURSE.

WE LOOK TO ADD MORE LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES THERE IN THE COMING MONTHS.

THE REVENUE THAT WE GENERATE FROM AIRPORT CONCESSIONS, AND THAT'S BOTH FOOD, BEVERAGE, RETAIL, PARKING, ALL OF THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REVENUE THAT COMES INTO THIS AIRPORT.

THE MORE YOU GROW THAT, THE LOWER YOU CAN MAKE YOUR FEES.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK ABOUT HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE IN THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS.

A LOT OF THAT HAS COME FROM ADDITIONAL PARKING AND FROM ADDITIONAL CONCESSIONS.

>> FOLLOWING UP ON THAT, IN ADDITION TO RESTAURANTS, BECAUSE THE AIRPORT IS REALLY THE FIRST THING THAT MANY FIRST-TIME VISITORS SEE WHEN THEY COME HERE, WHEN THEY COME TO LAMBERT, IT'S FUNCTIONAL, BUT COMPARED TO MAYBE OTHER AIRPORTS, IT MAY NOT THAN JAZZY.

DO YOU THINK IT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO KIND OF INVEST IN THE FUTURE IN SOME SORT OF OVER-THE-TOP EYE CANDY TO GIVE AN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, GREAT IMPRESSION TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIRST COME TO LAMBERT?

>> YES, CHARLIE, AND I THINK -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE LOOKED AT -- WE HAVE AN ART PROGRAM THAT WE CREATED ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO TO REALLY HIGHLIGHT ALL THE GREAT LOCAL ARTISTS WE HAVE IN THIS REGION, BUT ALSO SOME OF THE ART INSTITUTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD AND WE'VE ALSO COMMISSIONED SOME ART THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN BY SOME INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS WHO WON THOSE COMMISSION PIECES.

SO THAT'S ONE WAY OF ENHANCING IT.

IT'S COLORFUL, IT PASSES PEOPLE'S TIME.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ROTATING EXHIBITS, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT COMES IN TO THINK ABOUT WHERE DO WE GO WITH OUR AIRPORT IN THE FUTURE.

AND WHAT IS IT THAT PEOPLE WANT AND WE CAN DO.

AND PART OF THE REASON THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT A FACILITY AND THE POTENTIAL OF A NEW FACILITY IS THE COST OF MAINTAINING THIS AND NEVER BEING ABLE TO GET TO THAT TYPE OF FACILITY, NEVER BEING ABLE TO HAVE CONCOURSES THAT MEET -- OUR CONCOURSE IS 75 FEET WIDE.

THE CONCOURSE AVERAGE OF TODAY IS 150 FEET WIDE.

WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE MORE RESTAURANTS ARE WANTED, MORE VENUES ARE WANTED, AND PEOPLE LIKE TO HAVE THINGS THEY CAN DO.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO KEEP THIS FACILITY, YOUR ABILITY TO END HAS THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GOING TO BE LIMITED, WHEREAS YOU'RE GOING TO SPEND AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY MAINTAINING AND TRYING TO REINVEST IN OLDER INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THOSE WILL BE THE THINGS THAT COME OUT AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS AND DOES THIS MAKE SENSE AND HERE'S SOME OF THE PROS AND CONS AND THE REASONS WHY.

WHEN YOU COME INTO A TERMINAL, A LOT OF PLACES WHEN YOU'RE COMING INTO L.A. OR DALLAS OR WHEREVER, YOU SEE SIGNS IN THE AIRPORT, WELCOME TO THE TERMINAL.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT.

WE HAVE TWO ENTRANCES TO THE AIRPORT, COMING FROM EAST OR WEST, AND WE REALLY DOPT HAVE TODAY WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER WELCOMING SIGNAGE THAT WOULD BE TRANSFORMATIONAL.

I THINK IN THE NEW SCHEME OF THINGS, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER FEES THAT COULD REALLY GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF WOW.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO TO BE ABLE TO ENHANCE THAT.

WE HAVE A ROADWAY SYSTEM RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR TERMINAL, NOT EXACTLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING YOU CAN HAVE AND IT'S VERY CONCERNING.

I THINK LOOKING AT ALL OF THAT COULD REALLY HAVE SOME WOW FACTOR AS WE THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS AIRPORT AND WHERE WE AS A REGION WANT TO GO, AS A CITY WANT TO GO, AND WHERE DO OUR AIRLINES WANT TO GO.

>> I READ ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE PROBLEMS IN THE SKY WITH COVID AND EVERYONE'S ANGRY AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING ASSAULTED.

ARE THERE PROBLEMS LIKE THAT IN THE AIRPORT, OR DOES IT -- ARE THE PROBLEMS PUT OFF UNTIL PEOPLE TRY TO SQUEEZE INTO A PLANE?

HAVE YOU NOTICED BAD CONDUCT, IS WHAT I'M ASKING.

>> WE'VE BEEN PRETTY LUCKY.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE HAS BEEN THAT CONDUCT EVEN IN THE TERMINAL SIDE.

SO THE MASK MANDATE WENT IN SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRLINES -- YOU KNOW, THEY STARTED MANDATING MASKS ON BOARD AND THEN LATE LAST SUMMER, I BELIEVE IT WAS LATE LAST SUMMER, WHEN THE FAA MANDATED THAT INSIDE THE TERMINALS, YOU MUST ALSO HAVE MASKS.

THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDED NUMEROUS TIMES.

IT'S NOW ON EXTENSION UNTIL MAY -- MARCH, EXCUSE ME, THE END OF MARCH.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO WEAR A MASK BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A MASK MANDATE FOR THE COUNTY OR FOR THE STATE, BUT YET, WHEN YOU'RE INSIDE THIS BUILDING, THERE IS A FEDERAL MANDATE THAT THEY DO MUST WEAR A MASK AT ALL TIMES UNLESS YOU'RE ACTIVELY EATING OR DRINKING.

SO IF YOU'RE IN ONE OF OUR RESTAURANTS AND YOU'RE EATING, HAVING LUNCH OR BREAKFAST, WHATEVER, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE YOUR MASK ON.

BUT IF YOU'RE WALKING THROUGH THE AIRPORT, SEATED AT A GATE AREA, YOU'RE BOARDING YOUR KNIGHT, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE THAT -- YOUR FLIGHT, YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR MASK ON.

WE'VE GONE UP AND DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

WE TO HAVE TO ENFORCE THAT, WHICH IS HARD WHEN YOU'VE GOING THROUGH TWO MILLION SQUARE FEET ENFORCING THAT, AND WE WORK WITH OUR OFFICERS AND OTHER SECURITY PERSONNEL TO DO THAT.

MOST PEOPLE ARE COMPLIANT.

YOU ALWAYS GET THAT ONE OR TWO PEOPLE A DAY WHO DON'T WANT TO DO IT AND THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE FACILITY.

I WILL SAY IT'S BEEN A MINIMAL PROBLEM HERE, BUT THE ENFORCEMENT IS SOMETHING WE DEAL WITH EVERY DAY AND USUALLY ONCE WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE, THEY WILL PUT IT ON, BUT IT'S A CONSTANT CHALLENGE.

>> RHONDA HAMM-NIEBRUEGGE, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR SO TO GO, SO LET ME ASK YOU, A REAL PEDESTRIAN QUESTION.

IF I'M TAKING AMERICAN AIRLINES, CAN I ACTUALLY PARK MY CAR IN PARKING LOT A AND WALK THROUGH THAT TUNNEL OR IS THAT VERBOTEN?

DO I STILL HAVE TO TAKE THE VAN TO GO TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES?

>> NO, NO, NO.

IF YOU'RE FLYING NORTHWESTERN AND YOU WANT TO PARK IN -- FLYING AMERICAN AND YOU WANT TO PARK IN LOT A, THERE'S A TUNNEL YOU CAN WALK THROUGH FROM LOT A RIGHT INTO THE GARAGE.

>> VERY WELL.

THAT SETTLE AND FAMILY ARGUMENT THEN.

I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU STRETCH FOR JOINING US ON NINE PBS.

WE APPRECIATE THE TIME YOU SHARED WITH US AND BEST OF LUCK AND THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY AT THE AIRPORT.

TO BE CONTINUED, AS WE OFTEN SAY.

>> THANK YOU.

>> RHONDA HAMM-NIEBRUEGGE, THE DIRECTOR FOR OUR AIRPORT.

THANKS, EVERYBODY.

WE'LL CHECK IN WITH YOU NEXT WEEK AT THIS TIME.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.