Nicole Martz, CEO, Orlando Sanford International Airport

In an interview with Invest:, Nicole Martz, CEO of Orlando Sanford International Airport, discussed recent developments, including a $70 million terminal expansion aimed at improving passenger experience and revenue diversification initiatives. Looking ahead, priorities include further infrastructure development, expanding air services, and contributing to the economic well-being of the region, including plans for a hotel to complement airport development.

What have been some recent developments for the airport over the last few years?

During the pandemic, we took advantage of the downtime to work on a $70 million terminal expansion where we added four new gates, renovated and expanded the ticketing lobby, and made improvements to passenger access to improve the passenger experience at the airport. We are in a great position for additional growth and have seen our numbers bounce back significantly. By the end of this year, we anticipate we will exceed our pre-pandemic numbers for passenger volume, which is exciting for us. 

The importance of revenue diversification has been highlighted due to past events. We see ourselves not only as a transportation hub but also as a center of commerce in Seminole County and the wider region. The board renewed its focus on real estate assets at the airport. We have about 2,500 acres, among which 300 acres serve as an active commerce center and have been operating at that capacity since the 1940s. In addition, we have about 500 acres of vacant land that we see as an opportunity to do some significant economic development since there is not a lot of greenfield property left in the county. We have brought people on board to help us focus on our role as an economic driver in the region. 

Our 2021 strategic real estate development plan has been redone, and we have been actively sharing that with the development community. There is a significant amount of interest, and we have been looking at other opportunities outside of expansion to enhance the ability to foster economic development, like water and sewer infrastructure and stormwater. We are particularly interested in aviation uses and MRO facilities to better accommodate commercial and personal aircraft. 

We are reviewing three letters of intent for development right now, so we will see a lot more development for the airport and the region over the next year. We have also improved the traveler experience by bringing them back to the center of our decision-making process. 

Where are the greatest aviation opportunities in the region?

One of the exciting things happening in the industry right now is advanced air mobility and the opportunities it presents. We see it aligning with both of our missions of being a travel hub and economic commerce center, so we are exploring opportunities to host and support related activities such as MRO facilities and training. The economic development opportunities are very exciting because of our central location and interconnectedness, which is critical for air travel and economic development. 

Another exciting development is the opportunity to work with the Florida Expressway Authority. A feasibility study was completed last year, and earlier this year, the board approved moving forward with the PD&E study for that direct connection. That would help alleviate the congestion being experienced here and open up more opportunities for the airport as well.  

The other element of this multimodal dynamic that we think is critical to the airport’s growth is exploring a rail line that runs directly adjacent to the airport. We are the only Florida airport with a direct rail line. It is currently used by a lumber business, but we have been having conversations about how we can make use of this amazing asset. We see a great opportunity to capitalize on this and see how it can foster further development. 

How is the airport planning to accommodate the influx of new demand caused by population and business growth?

We have been focusing on an array of infrastructure developments. We have a major renovation on our primary runway, and we are also taking advantage of the bipartisan infrastructure law funding we received to add an additional taxi lane and extend the entire length of the runway to accommodate opportunities for growth and increase access to the airfield. 

The airport is pursuing funding for water and sewer expansions since the east side currently lacks these services. Investing in that infrastructure will benefit the airport’s functions and the region’s economic development. 

What trends are you paying attention to regarding sustainability?

We have the opportunity to be a center for the businesses that might be working in the industry. We have talked to a number of different manufacturers of low-emission engines and spoken with folks about hydrogen production. We are really excited about the aviation opportunities related to sustainability, and we think our proximity to important locations gives us an opportunity to be at the center of them. 

What are some of the community initiatives and events the airport has been involved in?

Before I came to the airport, I was the county manager of Seminole County for seven years, so I have very strong ties to the community. The airport was the center of the Sanford community when it was a naval training station, so it has always been a priority of the airport authority board to be a very visible contributor to the community. We support local events like the Seminole State College gala, Boy Scouts, Empower, and the Veterans Luncheon to be very visible and involved. The Orlando Air and Space show was recently hosted here, and we spent a lot of time and resources putting that on because we know it is important to the community. Another event we are proud of is Aviation Day. Every January, we do an event to expose kids to the industry, and this past January, we had 5,000 kids involved. It is a labor of love for us, but it is important to let young people know about the opportunities here, and we work closely with the school district and colleges on that event as well.  

What are the outlook and top priorities for the airport over the next couple of years?

We are so excited about the outlook, and there is so much opportunity ahead of us. I am completely jazzed about being part of this because it really is the next big thing in terms of opportunity. We can provide additional air services to the community and further expand international air traffic. The other priority is creating a hotel around here to really complement the development here as there is an increasing need to have one, and there is enough demand to support it. Contributing to the economic well-being of the region is our focus, and I think this is going to be our year for that.