Director of Aviation
San Jose Mineta International Airport
Mukesh “Mookie” Patel, C.M., is the Director of Aviation for SJC, where he leads more than 200 employees and manages an annual operating budget of $176 million and a $614 million Capital Improvement Program. Patel’s career spans three decades across major U.S. airports and airlines, including leadership roles at Denver International, San Antonio International, Austin-Bergstrom International and Alaska Airlines. He has overseen major capital programs, expanded non-airline revenues and built strong community and industry partnerships. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in Aviation Management and a licensed pilot, Patel serves on the American Association of Airport Executives Policy Review Committee and is the incoming Chair of the California Airports Council.
How are airports budgeting and managing cost escalation risk on CIPs given the tariffs and supply-chain impacts? How are credits doing in light of inflation and the many very large capital programs? How has the shift in air travel demand toward higher-end passengers affected airports of all sizes? Is airport public parking becoming obsolete given the growth of driverless cars? If so, how should airports balance near-term capacity with long-term decline risk?