Sarasota Bradenton International Airport’s president honored by FAA’s southern region
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Southern Region Airports Division has named Rick Piccolo its 2022 air carrier airport manager of the year.
Piccolo has served as chief executive of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Piccolo since 1995. He previously received the same honor in 2005.
SRQ is the nation’s fastest growing airport and has launched a massive expansion program to keep pace with growth.
Piccolo was chosen from airport managers in the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
The award recognizes excellence in airport management, leadership and promotion of the aviation industry.
From 2018 through 2022, SRQ grew from six airlines and 12 nonstop destinations to 11 airlines and 54 nonstop destinations.
During this time, the airport expanded the screening checkpoint from four to six lanes, enlarged the long-term, shade, and overflow parking lots, added a paved cellphone lot with amenities, quadrupled on-site fuel storage and started construction of a new five-gate terminal.
“I am very grateful and humbled to receive this award from the FAA Southern Region Division. This is a testament to the great team of employees and tenants at the airport who work diligently every day to make our users journey safe, secure, and as stress-free as possible, especially during this period of unprecedented growth at SRQ,” Piccolo said in a news release.
