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Director of Air Service and Airport Experience
Indianapolis Airport Authority
As director of air service and airport experience for the Indianapolis Airport Authority, Maggie Cunningham has a twofold charge: convincing airlines of the merits of offering service out of Indianapolis and ensuring passengers enjoy their time in the airport. During her tenure, the airport has launched nonstop trans-Atlantic flights to Paris and (soon) Dublin, attracted five new airlines and more than 50 nonstop flights, and developed a special flight strategy for Indianapolis-hosted events such as the NBA All-Star Game, the total solar eclipse, the Indianapolis 500 and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Meanwhile, IND has been named the best midsize airport for 12 consecutive years, according to an Airports Council International World survey of travelers. “If our team succeeds in the work to garner new nonstop flights and enhance the travel experience at the Indianapolis International Airport,” Cunningham said, “we can change lives by bringing the world closer and positively contributing to the global reputation of Indianapolis and Indiana.”
Getting here: As director of economic development for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, she worked with the Austin airport to be the voice of the business community. “That’s when I decided that air service development was a key part of economic development, and I wanted to be on the air service side of the table. Lucky for me, the Indianapolis Airport Authority was hiring!”
First job: soccer referee
Givebacks: president of Speedway Community Development Corp.; chair of the Air Service Committee for Airports Council International–North America; vice chair of The International Center’s board
Meaningful moment: Helping to launch the airport’s first trans-Atlantic flight to Paris in 2018 only to lose it 15 months later because of the COVID pandemic—“a very private, gut-wrenching and influential moment. … It seems silly, but so much work and strategy went into supporting the Paris flight, and it was clear the value and pride it brought to our city and state. Despite the disappointment, losing the Paris flight motivated me to remain focused on the pursuit of another flight from IND to Europe.”•
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