Airport CEO compares competitors to grocery stores

It’s the country club of airports.

At least that’s what the head of the airport says.

During a recent luncheon about the future of air travel in the region, hosted by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo told attendees SRQ is a different kind of airport.

That’s because, he says, the airport has more of a “boutique, resorty, country club feel.”

Piccolo later took his country club description a step (or several) further. He shared an unusual analogy that illustrated the way he likes to compare area airports to grocery store chains.

Tampa International Airport, he says, is like Publix. The Punta Gorda Airport in Charlotte County is like Save-A-Lot. As for Sarasota Bradenton International Airport? He says it’s like Whole Foods.

So it's a generalist, a discounter and an high-end option. Here's to some kale and Kombucha on that next flight from SRQ.