Branson Airport brings manager on board

The privately financed and operated commercial service Branson Airport - set to open in May - has hired Sharon Morris as manager of fixed-base operations and airline services. For private and chartered aircraft, Morris oversees services ranging from fueling to catering to booking hotels or rental cars for travelers. For commercial flights, she manages parking of incoming aircraft, fueling, baggage, ticketing and boarding operations.

Morris comes from Boston where she was a seven-year operations manager at Signature Flight Support. She's been in the airport industry for more than 20 years including supervisory jobs with Northwest Airlink Airlines in Memphis, Tenn., and Valujet Airlines in Raleigh, N.C., and Boston.

She's not surprised by a commercial airport in Branson.

"What surprises me is that it's been so long in the coming; that there wasn't something here to support this market for the retirees, veterans and everyone who comes here," Morris said. "We have an amazing opportunity to do something for the community. I walk around the community, and anyone who sees anyone wearing something with a Branson Airport logo comes up and talks about it. It's a very intelligent community, and they want this."