Hamm-Niebruegge becomes Lambert-St. Louis International Airport director

By Jeff Small

KSDK -- A woman has been named the new director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport for the first time in its history.

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge begins the job at a critical time for the future at Lambert.  She replaces retiring airport director Dick Hrabko.

It was just recently when American Airlines announced most of their non-stop flights from Lambert Airport were being cut. There was some good news with Southwest adding flights, but big challenges await the new airport director.

Hamm-Niebruegge comes into the job with 20 years of airline industry experience. She says those years were in good, but very challenging times. In January, she assumes the top spot at Lambert where, like many other airports around the nation, business is down.

"Perhaps in this difficult time it is important to have someone who understands the business, understands Lambert, and can really hit the ground running and take charge immediately," said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay.

Hamm-Niebruegge is addressing a concern among some critics. Her background was as a managing director with American Airlines in St. Louis, the same airline that bought TWA, and has albeit pulled itself from Lambert Airport.

She says unfortunate and surprising things happened with American, but adds she has the broad experience to help the airport rebound.

"So I think when you look at these things and you look at my resume with American Airlines when they were downsizing, it's really two different issues," said Hamm-Niebruegge. "So my goal is to make Lambert the best it can be and I think I can do that."

One traveler from St. Louis says positive changes are long overdue.

"I would like for people to know this is a great city and I am not sure the airport always reflects that," said passenger Paul Steinmann. "People come in and it's not very cheery or bright and I think they could do a lot to improve it."

There are many things on the "to do list" for Lambert's new director. Hamm-Niebruegge says she will focus on making the airport more customer-friendly. She also plans to continue the work already underway to bring more airlines to St. Louis.

Hamm-Niebruegge grew up in Oran, Missouri. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1982 and began her airline career as a customer service agent with Ozark Airlines.