Louisville Regional Airport Authority Executive Director Dan Mann recently announced the promotion of Anthony Gilmer to Vice President of Air Service Development and Strategic Marketing. In this role, Gilmer will continue to oversee all airport marketing and air service development strategies that drive continued growth of both Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) and Bowman Field (LOU).
“Anthony has done a phenomenal job attracting new carriers and routes to SDF,” added Mann. “Thanks to Anthony’s talent, knowledge and industry connections, our airport is experiencing record passenger growth. Under his guidance, we’ve welcomed three new airlines, 18 new routes and SDF’s first regularly scheduled service to the West Coast.”
Since joining the Airport Authority in 2018 as the Director of Marketing and Air Service Development, Gilmer has led SDF to three of its five busiest years for passenger traffic in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Plus, SDF is experiencing its fastest passenger growth in three decades with the addition of Breeze Airways, Spirit Airlines and Sun Country Airlines in the Louisville market.
Gilmer recruited nonstop service to Boston (BOS), Los Angeles (LOS) and San Francisco (SFO), the three most sought-after business markets by the community. In 2023, for the first time in decades, SDF will be serviced by more mainline aircraft, the larger passenger jets with more amenities for travelers, than smaller, regional jets. The increase in mainline aircraft allow for more passengers to utilize nonstop service to more than 35 destinations from SDF and fosters continued growth for the airport.
Gilmer remains poised to continue future growth for SDF with nearly 18 years of airport and airline industry experience in a variety of areas such as air service development, airport marketing, government affairs, airline operations and public relations.
For his efforts at SDF, Gilmer has been recognized by the local community and within the industry. He’s the inaugural recipient of the Best Airport Partner Award from the Cranky Network Awards, which are presented by the respected and in-depth airline industry blog, The Cranky Flier that recognizes the best in U.S. and Canadian airline network planning. In 2019, he was named to the Forty Under 40 list by Louisville Business First and was part of the team who accepted the Silver Fleur de Lis Award from Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) for air service efforts. Gilmer was also recognized by TOPS Louisville Magazine as part of it’s 50 Under Fifty list in 2021.
Before joining the Airport Authority, Gilmer previously served as the Director of Marketing and Air Service Development at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in Columbia, SC. He also served as Director of Marketing for The Quotient Group, a full-service aviation marketing agency, and as the Marketing and Air Service Coordinator at the West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston, WV.
Gilmer earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Charleston in Charleston, WV. He currently serves as the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Vice Chair of the Air Service Committee.
