Vernice Walkine, NAD’s Chief Executive, speaking on the sidelines of the 2025 Routes Americas Conference, said the company is becoming more deliberate about seeking additional point-to-point airline service due to the pressure caused by connections through hubs, particularly between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
“Most flights come in or leave during that time, and we’re finding that non-stop flights from major gateways will serve us well,” Walkine said. “It will take some pressure off. One of our goals at this conference is to discuss with carriers how we can stretch peak hours by having more flights before 11 a.m. or after 3 p.m. This will help enormously. We’re also discussing our plans for expansion to manage the peak more effectively, utilizing technology to process passengers and bags faster.”
Regarding the airport’s future expansion, Walkine said, “Over the next 5, 10, 20 years, we’ll expand our facilities to alleviate airside congestion. We’re looking at adding parallel taxiways, rapid-exit taxiways, and expanding terminals with more jet bridges. It’s an exciting time as we share our vision with airlines, so they can plan for the future with us.”
Walkine noted that NAD has two dozen meetings scheduled at the Routes Americas Conference and that while expansion plans are in development, they have not been finalized.
“We are actively planning now, but it will require refinancing, so we’re likely talking about 2026 and beyond to start any major projects. The refinancing is not yet finalized,” Walkine explained.
She also reported that LPIA ended 2024 with 4.06 million passengers, a slight increase from the previous year.
“We’re nearing capacity, which is why we’re exploring ways to grow our facilities to accommodate future demand. Our growth is also tied to the expansion of hotel rooms,” Walkine added.
Additionally, Walkine noted that NAD is working toward achieving a five-star designation for LPIA. “To stand out, we need to be better than everyone else, and we’ve challenged our team to move toward this five-star rating,” she said. “It’s a journey, and while it will take time, we will make small, incremental changes along the way that will make a huge difference for passengers. We’re listening to what passengers want and will use technology and other improvements to meet their needs.”
