Philadelphia International Airport CEO Mark Gale is retiring after six years running the nation's 12th busiest airport.
Gale, who was appointed CEO in 2009, has spent the last 28 years in various roles with the airport.
He is slated to retire in January.
The airport, a hub for American Airlines, generates more than $14.4 billion in economic activity for Philadelphia and accounts for more than 141,000 jobs in the region, according to Mayor Michael Nutter, who announced Gale's retirement on Nov. 30. Around 31 million passengers come through the airport each year.
"Mark has been an outstanding leader of the airport," Nutter said in a statement. "He has been focused on expanding convenient, efficient and affordable air service while directing operations of this facility so important to the economic health of the city and region."
Gale helped advance a multi-billion dollar modernization and expansion program that added five new carriers. The airport, however, suffered a one-notch credit downgrade by Standard & Poor's to A from A-plus in August due largely to a "relatively weak liquidity position."
