It’s been close to a year since Charlene Reynolds, airport director of John Wayne Airport, was honored at the Business Journal’s annual Women in Business Awards.
In the 10-plus months since then, rental car company SIXT opened its 50th location and Clay Lacy Aviation opened the Orange County FBO at John Wayne Airport.
The FBO, or fixed-base operator, was the largest private investment ever at John Wayne Airport.
Clay Lacy Aviation is also seeking a county bond for $120 million to fund improvements at its FBO.
Then there’s Dallas-based JSX. The public charter jet operator relocated its base of operations to the airport in May.
It’s not just SIXT, JSX and the FBO—John Wayne Airport has many more changes in store, thanks to Reynolds’ leadership.
John Wayne Airport has a five-year, $700 million modernization plan that would bring updated terminals and taxiways.
The airport is also among nearly a dozen across the nation piloting a dedicated TSA lane for families who use the federal government’s pre-check services.
Airport staff said major airport news is on deck this week – see our online site and the Sept. 22 issue of the Business Journal for details.
Reynolds was recognized last October for overseeing Southern California’s third busiest airport, shortly after reporting that 11.7 million passengers traveled on more than 300,000 flights flying in and out of
Orange County’s largest transportation hub.
The John Wayne Airport director was responsible for 174 employees and a $530 million annual budget at the time of her recognition.
The 2025 Women in Business Awards will be held Oct. 15 at the Irvine Marriott.
