Lawmakers propose revamp of airport management

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The House Labor Committee approved a proposal Tuesday to change how Hawaii's airports are operated.

The proposal calls for a management authority that would be headed by a CEO to run the daily operations of the state's airports.

Some in the airline industry believe state management is a big reason major airport renovation projects are backlogged.

However, the new management proposal has some state worker unions worried about potential job losses and a lack of accountability.

"We want to make sure that it, by default, doesn't become a privatization without a full thorough discussion about it," Rep. Aaron Johanson, House Labor Committee Chair said. "We want to make sure that it by default doesn't become a privatization without a full thorough discussion about it."

The bill now heads to the Finance Committee

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