BANGOR, Maine — Bangor International Airport’s director for the past decade has accepted a similar position in Boise, Idaho.
Rebecca Hupp said Friday night that the move represents an opportunity for professional growth.
“From time to time, I have been approached by recruiters about openings. I was very interested in the Boise position, in the community and in a new challenge,” Hupp said, adding that BIA currently ranks 125th nationally in terms of traffic and that Boise Airport is ranked 75th.
Hupp, who is slated to assume her new post in April, said she would work with City Manager Cathy Conlow to ensure a smooth transition.
Hupp was named BIA’s director in December 2001. Before that, she served as acting director.
Hupp’s Boise appointment was announced by Boise Mayor David Bieter.
“The Boise Airport is a major economic driver for Boise and all of southwest Idaho,” he said. “It is critical that it has a dynamic leader with the vision and expertise to guide the airport out of this recession and into a productive and successful future.”
Before serving in Bangor, Hupp was airport manager of the Aberdeen Regional Airport in Aberdeen, S.D. She began her career with the Kansas City Aviation Department, where she served in several key positions including operations, marketing and business development.
Hupp’s appointment is subject to approval by the Boise City Council, which is set to meet on Jan. 24.
I know she had critics but i think she did a pretty solid job to upgrade the terminal building and to bring allegiant air in a bad ecomony. I would like to see what kind of vision the new director would have. I would like the see an airline make bangor a leisure hub during the summer
Anybody can spend government money to build more buildings. It’s how the building is used that counts. If the improved building resulted in attracting more flights, it might be a good investment, but having a fancier building but with fewer flights than ever is hardly an accomplishment.
Allegiant provides service a few days a week during part of the year, and no service during our busy summertime tourist season. They offer only part time seasonal employment. They take vacationing Mainers elsewhere to spend their money, but bring almost nobody from outside in to spend money in OUR economy. Slightly better than nothing, but not exactly a big boon for the Bangor area.
Doesn’t sem like you can be pleased. Maybe you should show us all what a great job you can do.
Well at least one of the many clowns thats part of BIA upper management is finally gone..now if the rest of them would just head to boise too…
They’ll just be more behind her.
Send in the clowns…..
Without a doubt.
Why do you apply for her job ??
Are you claiming you know “these clowns” and the actions they have taken to keep this Airport going over the last 11 years while other airports have actually failed?
Come on. Show us all what you know, instead of snide childish one liners.
BGR has “actually failed” about as much as possible without turning the runway into a huge parking lot. Look at the percentage decrease in number of seats available out of BGR compared with airports like PWM. One misstep after another by Hupp. Remember the $500,000 grant they were bragging about last year to subsidize new service that would compete with existing service out of BGR? The existing airlines that have shown at least some level of ongoing commitment to BGR are barely hanging on as it is and she thinks it’s a good idea to pay a competitor to come in and further lower their yields? Maybe she can completely drive them out of town! No such new service has materialized and BGR has gone down to just ONE flight per day to western destinations via DTW. There is no longer ANY service to BOS, and USAIR will soon stop serving LGA out of BGR and Delta’s flights are decreasing too. Hopefully BGR was a learning situation for her and she’ll do better in Boise, but we’ll be recovering from her learning curve for quite a while.
” BGR has “actually failed” about as much as possible…”
Considering the number of airports in this nation that have lost all scheduled service – it is difficult to use the word “failed” when describing our airport. Granted, we don’t have hourly service to Boston and fares aren’t as low as the Concord Bus – but we still have rubber touching the runway.
The infrastructure improvements at Bangor were the result of maximizing the federal contribution against the state and local dollars – all done under Ms. Hupp’s tutelage. The growth of our airport is at the same pace as the growth in our population base and economy – two factors that are not controlled by airport management.
One note to Ms. Hupp and Ms. Conlow : We do not need to spend $40,000 hiring a out-of-state headhunter to find a new airport director. Bangor brought Tony Caruso back from Arizona because he knows this airport and could be groomed to run it some day.
Some day is now.
Agreed on all points.
Too many here don’t have any idea what has happened to similar airports that did not have Mrs. Hupp at the helm over the last 11 years.
The Airport administration doesn’t even include any of the same people that were there when she started so the credit for keeping this backwater airport alive is all hers.
Mr. Caruso would do well as the next Director.
Similar airports? Hmmmm. Let’s compare the drastic loss of flights and destinations lost by Bangor as compared to Portland, or Manchester, N.H. or similar airports in New England. Portland and Manchester have both seen explosive growth in the same time period that Bangor has been almost moth balled. The airport’s performance was a clear failure under Ms.Hupps reign. You can’t even get to the nearest hub (Boston) from here! If you’re praising the work of Ms. Hupp you must either be a once every 5 year flyer or a relative.
Talk to folks who fly out of Bangor on business on an almost weekly basis. The lack of destinations and flights typically adds at least a full day to your trip in most cases. I’m guessing if it weren’t for the landing fees of the military flights that fly through here, this airport might likely have been one of the casualties you speak of.
“Similar airports?” You’re stretching reality when comparing BGR with MHT (nearly 5-million pax per year) or PWM (pushing 2-million pax).
Bangor is more comparable to Greenville, MS (only 2 flights a day) or Mason City, IA (4 flights). Population base is close to Bangor as is proximity of other airports.
Even Waterloo, IA, with double the population of Bangor only operates 5 flights daily.
I do agree with you regarding fares – we will never have MHT or PWM fair fares.
Not a relative but a frequent airport visitor and not just the one in Bangor either.
When I say similar airports I am speaking of ones around the country like Bangor not just the ones in your little pond.
Central to a declining population base.
Handed down or built oversized to begin with and much like a house to large for the people who inherit it very difficult to support on a limited budget.
Airlines decide where they will go in part based on population base. Bangor Maine can not claim ownership of more than 500,000 with a straight face and no one would believe more than 200,000 no matter what the claim made.
Keeping all that in mind how can Bangor compete with the larger Cities to the south?
We are a tourist destination without a whole lot to attract tourist other than those who want to get away from it all.
You want more traffic which will lead to competition and lower prices?
Build more of a reason for airlines and people to come here.
Make sure when you do comparisions you actually compare apples to apples . Look at Rural Airports in other States and how they have managed over the last 11 years.
They were either swallowed up by Metro/Port Authority groups from neighboring big cities or, supported by Federal welfare systems once they lost enough flights, or they lost certification altogether and went GA only. Some few like Bangor survived.
You survived a long time simply because Airlines needed to stop here due to a more limited range. They have improved and much like the old train stations that used to provide water to steam engines you lost your purpose.
Considering what you have to offer an airline here you have been very well served so far.
If you still feel you have been cheated by some success you should have been given maybe you should blame it on those who want no advancement or population increases in this part of Maine?
“When I say similar airports I am speaking of ones around the country like Bangor not just the ones in your little pond.”
Thanks for your condescending remarks. So I take it you don’t live in this area and fly out of Bangor very often? If you at all knew the history of what’s transpired between Bangor, Portland, and Manchester over the last 20 years in terms of where they were and where they are now, then you’d understand the frustration levels of all business travelers flying out of Bangor. Some cities invest in better facilities, PR campaigns, advertising, and management in order to attract carriers, while others stand around making excuses but doing nothing.
My family is from this area Big Wind and I grew up here and have lived in this area the better part of my adult life. I still live here as my name might show you. I do understand your frustration but you can not have it both ways. Maine has been moving back to nature for the past 40 years no embracing commerce or the big money mentality but actually making sure that any business that may change their sleepy little State and make it more urban stays out. I believe you have no idea how hard management in the few facilities you have left work in order to just hold their ground. God knows your policies will not allow them to prosper.
There are still a few people who manage to make money in this State, they reside for the most part in southern Maine or they are in the hospitality/seasonal businesses but for the most part they are like me. They migrate constantly, trying to make it work here at home but always knowing they may have to give it all up again and leave.
We have a wonderful State but we make it quite clear that progress is not welcome here.
Congrats, Rebecca. Thanks for a great job over the last ten years!
I just love spending annual family vacations in Bangor area and flying from UK to PHL PA and up to Bangor.
I think that BIA is a fantastic airport which I hope will thrive and flourish in these extremely challenging times … the BIA staff are always extremely polite, friendly, helpful and very professional.
Thank you BIA !!!!!!!!
From a Maine and USA admirer here in the UK.
And from the USA and Maine to our admirers in the UK, we thank you for your gracious comments.
And on a personal note, the Black Lion Inn, St. Albans is an absolutely lovely establishment.
I’ll bet that USairways flight from Philly to BGR won’t be available much longer, and then erstwhile admirer langsettranger will be taking the bus to get to BGR.
Bangor is the last stop to nowhere, which is just the way they like it.
Hiya fanycradock, thanks for your comment. TBH I’ve already got Plan-B ready for our plans to get back to BGR in the flights dry-up.
We’d go Manchester UK to Boston MA and then meet our ME buddies there and have a fun-run up the I-95 stopping a Kittery Outlets and Freeport Outlets, maybe stopping over and dropping in Gritty McDuff’s and then onto Woodman’s Bar-n-Grill in Orono.
The corporate clowns bankers n muppets with Elton John glasses and pink braces will not defeat my homing instincts to get back to my beloved Maine :-)
Blimey. You really like it over there, don’t you? Must be the water.
Maybe she can get a marketing campaign going for her new employer. I am sure she knows the ropes from her experience here.
Indeed. She had a thankless job, coming in as she did in the wake of 9-11. The changes in aviation and air travel during this time were incredible. The security screeners went from being employees of the city of BGR to federal employees, among other things. She kept the troop flights coming when they threatened to go elsewhere.
She has nowhere to go but up from bangor.
Good news.
About time the stagnant elbow rubbing management is moving on to somewhere else.
Director Hupp,
thanks very much for your professional support of our rescue at BIA all these years, we are better for knowing you as is Bangor. We will miss you and wish you the best of luck! Doc Bowie for DEEMI.
you mean BIA is still open?
This is by far the best thing Hupp has done , and could do for BIA.
Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!! Perhaps now we’ll be able to attract a competent Director. BIA has suffered under Hupp’s tenure. I suspect she’d have been gone long ago had the city not gotten burned in the past for firing an employee who turned around and sued.
You really better hope she wasn’t the last thing keeping our airport afloat.
tony Caruso has lived and breathed Bangor international for 15 years or more.
he is more than worthy of finally getting the shot he deserved years ago.
“opportunity for professional growth” = “they pay more in Boise”.
nothing wrong with that.
Actually it probably means “I’ve screwed up royally here and I want to get out before the house of cards all comes crashing down and I can’t get a job elsewhere”
Considering Boise has access to all of Bangor’s Stats wouldn’t you think they could judge her performance well enough to see if she had “screwed up” as you put it?
Crappy airport, crappy parking, crappy airlines, crappy planes, crappy schedules, and way overpriced !
How many of her critics applied for the job? They seem to know so much more than her.
It does seem that a lot of people prefer to fly in to the Portland airport and drive to Bangor. The fares are outrageous to fly in to Bangor.
That is a common misconception.
I fly over 75,ooo miles a year and most often fly out of Bangor from fall to the spring when fares are practically the same as Portland. During the summer months, yes… fares are more expensive because of demand.
Good Riddance, the woman’s expression on her face is as if she is smelling a smear of poop under her nose, she is rude and looks down on people. I have heard from many in the City that she is mean and thinks she is better than anyone, she looks down on everyone not in her economic bracket….
I don’t think she was allowed to pick the picture the BDN threw in here. That being said I’m willing to bet you’ve had a few bad ones in the family album too.
As for how people feel about her where she works, I can tell from reading this that you don’t know any of the people who have ever worked with her.
Yes I do, I work for the City also
I guess like anyone she can’t be well liked by everyone and there are always those who envy people who have achieved a level they can’t reach. I know many others from the City and at the Airport who don’t agree with your personal opinion.
Your obvious bias indicates you are either a family member or even HER…and from some of the comments on here, im not alone in my sentiment.
I do have a bias but the thing that is causing confusion for you and you other anti-everything on here is what my bias is for an against. First I assure you I am not a family member or HER and that I will be in these forums have I have been for years long after she is gone. My bias is actually consistant in all of the threads I post on and on all of the subjects. I am against the general anti-business atmosphere that has been created in my home State over the last half century and for the most part those of you who support it and then blame big business for leaving. As for this Airport, I do a lot with this industry and around this airport and I happen to know the work that has gone into making it a better place over the last 11 years. If you do work for the City you may know about some of the State and Federal actions taken against the City and the Airport just about the time the Director was brought in. The fact that you haven’t heard much since on any of those subjects is due to her leadership and the staff she helped put in place. The truth is your post still seems to be the only one on here so far from “the City” claiming the things you claim. If she were even half as bad as you claim wouldn’t you expect a lot more of your co-workers out here posting about how great it is to show her the door?
After all you don’t even need to use your real name while you throw your stones.
Long overdue. The decline at BIA has been sad to see. I used to travel a lot on business, and spent extra $$$$ every year for the conveneince of flying out of Bangor. If I had to do it today, it simply wouldn’t be possible. I would have to move.
As someone who flies often out of BIA, Ms Hupp has done an outstanding job. If you’ve flown in and out of more than a couple airports, big OR small, you’d realize how smoothly things run here. While I hate to see her leave, I wish her all the best in her new position.Good luck and thank you for a job well done!
I still remember when Delta offered flights more than once a day on real jets not these flying sardine cans Allegient flys jets to BGR and they are stuffed to the gills with people. I know they dont come everyday but I eould rather fly on them instead of US Air
Darn-I was hoping to see a photo of her w/a smile on her face. I’ve never seen her smile, not once.
Hope the young lady finds something to smile about in Boise.
Hupp did her job. Nothing more, Nothing less. Sure, BGR lost flights but so did every other small airport across the nation. She did the best that she could considering the times.
I think BGR still has potential. There is an opportunity for great market share when you look at all our Canadian neighbors that cross the border to use BGR. Has anyone ever checked the price of flights from Fredericton or St John to any destination in the US? BGR is typically a bargain! Plus, we have a hotel steps from the airport. How many small airports can boast that?
The new director will definitely be faced with more challenges. In my opinion, if BGR is going to remain competitive, further airport updates are going to need to occur. BGR does not need a big new fancy terminal but a vast renovation of the existing one. There is nothing past security other than vending machines and a small coffee cart. Dining choices? non existent. I find it odd that BGR does NOT offer covered parking considering the typical winter weather here in Maine. I mean if you are going to spend the money, you look for value. Assuming the food is the same, wouldn’t you rather spend $20 for a meal in an upscale restaurant instead of a older diner? You can’t expect to stay in business without a commitment to keeping with the times.
If I remember correctly, the cost of a covered parking structure was off the chart. It would also necessitate an increase in the daily charge resulting in less usage.
That hotel you talked about? Surprisingly, there is a very good restaurant in it. So check in for your flight; cross the sky-bridge to the Four Points; have you $20 lunch and then leisurely clear security and board your flight.
I agree, I think Fredericton and St John are two large potential markets that BGR can market more to.