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    1. Airports
    2. Airports & Municipalities

    Director Who Led Massive Growth at SLO County Airport is Leaving for a Job at SFO

    Sept. 11, 2020
    San Luis Obispo County's director of airports is leaving after seven years on the job, according to a news release from the airport.

    By Cassandra Garibay

    Source The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

    Sep. 10--San Luis Obispo County's director of airports is leaving after seven years on the job, according to a news release from the airport. 

    Kevin Bumen has accepted a new position to be the first chief commercial officer for the San Francisco International Airport, the news release said.

    Bumen, a Cal Poly graduate, managed the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport and Oceano County Airport since 2013. His last day is slated to be Oct. 9.

    "This was not an easy decision to make," Bumen said of his decision to leave. "I'm honored to have served the SLO community these past seven years and am excited to watch our wonderful airport continue to grow."

    During his seven years as director, Bumen oversaw a $40 million project to build a passenger terminal at the airport in San Luis Obispo.

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    The number of airplane passengers served by that airport doubled under his leadership from 272,268 people in 2013 to 544,575 people in 2019, the airport reported.

    According to the release, the increase in passengers was a result of six routes and two new airlines made available to travelers.

    "Through his hard work and vision, we have seen our airport grow from a modest community asset to a true gateway to the world," county administrative officer Wade Horton said in the release.

    In 2018, the San Luis Obispo airport was named the seventh-fastest growing small airport in North America, according to the release.

    Along with growing the airport, Bumen was credited with conducting the airport's first economic impact study.

    The study found that the San Luis Obispo airport has contributed around $85 million each year to San Luis Obispo County's economy, the release said.

    According to the release, Bumen's planning has also helped keep the airport afloat throughout the coronavirus pandemic, when the airport saw a 90% drop in passengers after state and county shelter-at-home orders were put in place in mid-March.

    Details on San Luis Obispo County's new director of airports have not been released.

    ___

    (c)2020 The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.)

    Visit The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) at www.sanluisobispo.com

    Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    Josh Smith