Trenton-Mercer Airport has a new leadership team, with Michael Caires taking over as airport director and Matt Parker named deputy airport director.
The appointments, which were made by County Executive Dan Benson, took effect Tuesday, Sept. 1, as the Ewing airport moves ahead with long-term expansion plans and prepares for the arrival of new airline service.
Caires was selected following a national search and will oversee airport operations. Parker, who has been serving as acting assistant airport manager, will support day-to-day operations, internal coordination and implementation of the airport director’s priorities.
“Trenton-Mercer Airport is at an important point in its evolution and requires focused, accountable leadership,” Benson said. “Michael brings deep airport-management experience. He has extensive relationships across the industry and will build and maintain important relationships with our federal partners, airlines, tenants, and surrounding communities.”
Benson said Parker’s promotion will provide additional management capacity and continuity as the new leadership team begins its work.
The appointments come as Mercer County continues to pursue a major redevelopment of the airport terminal.
Plans approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2022 call for replacing the existing 28,000-square-foot terminal, built in the 1970s, with a new 125,000-square-foot facility. The project also includes expanded aircraft boarding areas, baggage facilities, passenger waiting areas, security screening space, concessions and a parking garage.
The FAA approved the project after finding that it would have no significant environmental impact. The county has said the new terminal is intended to better handle current passenger traffic and projected demand while modernizing a facility that is undersized and lacks many of the amenities and infrastructure found at newer airports.
The latest growth at the airport is coming from Breeze Airways, which announced this summer that it is adding Trenton-Mercer Airport to its network. Breeze will begin service from Trenton to Charleston, South Carolina, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Sept. 20. Flights to Vero Beach, Florida, will begin Sept. 30, followed by nonstop service to Fort Myers, Florida, on Jan. 8.
The Charleston route will give Trenton-Mercer Airport a nonstop destination outside Florida, while the other routes expand the airport’s service to Florida. Breeze will join Frontier Airlines in serving the airport.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Breeze Airways as our newest airline at Trenton-Mercer Airport, with nonstop flights to three destinations launching in the next six months,” Benson said when the service was announced in August.
Caires most recently served as general manager for TBI Airport Management Inc./Vinci Airports at Atlantic City International Airport. He previously spent 18 years at Orlando Sanford International Airport, where he held senior roles in marketing, commercial aviation, air-service development, customer experience and stakeholder relations.
Caires has more than 25 years of airport-management experience and more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and tourism. He also holds the International Airport Professional designation through the Airports Council International-International Civil Aviation Organization Airport Management Professional Accreditation Program.
“I am honored to join Mercer County and the team at Trenton-Mercer Airport,” Caires said. “TTN serves an important transportation and economic role for the County and the region.”
Caires said he looks forward to working with Parker, airport employees, stakeholders and county officials while maintaining the airport’s safety standards and focusing on reliable operations and future investment.
Parker began his aviation career at Trenton-Mercer Airport as an intern in 2012.
He later worked as an operations officer at Richmond International Airport and served as operations and facilities manager at Morristown Airport before returning to Trenton-Mercer Airport in a series of operations and management positions. Parker holds Certified Member and Airport Certified Employee aviation credentials.
Benson also thanked Kurt Neinstedt, who had been serving as acting airport manager during the search and transition and is preparing to retire.
“Kurt’s service has provided stability at an important time, and we appreciate his commitment to TTN and Mercer County,” Benson said.
Mercer County Board of Commissioners Chair Terrance Stokes and Vice Chair Cathleen Lewis said the appointments come as the airport prepares for several developments.
“With several exciting developments on the horizon at the airport, strong and effective leadership will be critical to guiding TTN through this next chapter of growth,” they said in a news release.
