BUSY YEAR FOR NEW PALMA AIRPORT BOSS

By Humphrey Carter THE new director of Palma's Son Sant Joan airport said yesterday that this summer will see yet another increase in passenger numbers and air traffic. Dionisio Canomanuel, who takes over from Mariano Menor, said that lately there has been a huge surge in demand for take-off and landing slots for this summer season “but we'll have to wait and see if the airlines actually take up all their slots,” he said. Canomanuel, who was previously the director of Tenerife South airport, said he is confident both the forthcoming summer season and the year as whole will be busier than 2003 and that his main aims are to maintain a good working relationship with all the operators at Palma airport and improve passenger care and attention. “All the suggestions from the airlines are more than welcome and we'll do our best to run the airport in the best interests of everybody,” the new airport boss added. The aeronautical engineer is, however, taking over the management of Spain's busiest charter airport during the summer and is also well aware of the need to make sure that the employees are happy. “I'll be looking to quickly establish good working relationship with all the various company bosses contracted by the airport,” he said. “But running a large airport is complicated and sometimes it's difficult to please everyone,” he added. Canomanuel did not, however, wish to discuss the future plans to expand the airport, although he did say that the installation of a new system to guide planes in to Palma through thick fog is on schedule. Already this year, fog has caused chaos at Palma airport and led to lengthy delays and cancellations. Dionisio Canomanuel yesterday met airline and travel company bosses at a welcome reception at Palma airport. The director general of Spanish Airports and Air Traffic Control (AENA), Carlos Medrano, also attended, along with the chairman of the Association of Spanish Airlines, Felipe Navío.