After just over a year as director of the Long Beach Airport, Bryant Francis is leaving for a similar position in Oakland, City Manager Pat West announced this morning. Francis will remain in Long Beach through March 30, after which he becomes director of aviation for Oakland International Airport, which is under the authority of the Port of Oakland.

Francis’ departure comes at a time when the airport and the City of Long Beach are grappling with the possibility of allowing U.S. Customs service at the airport, thus opening the door for international flights. Additionally, the city recently increased the number of commercial flights authorized through its airport noise ordinance. That opened the door for Southwest Airlines, which was granted four flight slots, to soon begin servicing the airport.

In a statement, Francis said: “I’ve had an invaluable experience as director of Long Beach Airport. I appreciate the community and our business partners for recognizing the airport as an important city asset. I thank the mayor, city council, airport advisory commission, and city manager for their collective guidance. The Long Beach Airport team is among the best I have had the pleasure of working with, and I am confident they will continue to deliver exceptional service to our customers.”

For more information, see the March 1 edition of the Long Beach Business Journal.