(Bloomberg) — Manchester Airports Group said its newly created U.S. unit—helmed by Chicago's former aviation chief—is making major strides after winning a contract in Minnesota and submitting bids in two other states as it seeks to tap into public spending on terminal facilities.
The business, run by Rosie Andolino—who previously worked in city of Chicago posts including executive director of the O’Hare International Airport modernization plan—marks a first foray abroad.
Denver International opened in 1995 and is the largest hub in the U.S. by land area. The facility, recognizable from the peaked roof of the Jeppesen Terminal that echoes the distant Rockies, is a major base for United Airlines and Southwest Airlines and handled more than 53 million people in 2014.
MAG increased earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization 17 percent to $442 million in the year ended March 31 as passenger numbers rose 10 percent to 48.5 million. Manchester, Britain’s No. 3 hub with 22 million passengers, is spending $1.5 billion to target long-haul fliers, while Stansted, on 21 million, wants to end a capacity cap.