Skip to main content
You are the owner of this article.
You have permission to edit this article.
Edit
Featured
| Investigative
MOBILE AIRPORT

Authority board revamped travel rules after 2023 China trip

Continental Aerospace

On the heels of a September 2023 trip to China where former Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) president Chris Curry joined executives with Continental Aerospace Technologies, airport officials moved to beef up oversight on travel and the executive position.

Curry’s trip to visit the Chinese-owned company was soon followed by Continental reaching out via a letter to MAA to express interest in purchasing airport-owned property — something that would likely have been illegal under new state laws. While the Airport Authority never formally responded to Continental’s overtures, the timing of Curry’s trip, the subsequent changes in Airport Authority travel policies and, ultimately, Curry’s abrupt departure right after those changes were codified have raised eyebrows. 

Chris Curry downtown airport

Former Mobile Airport Authority president Chris Curry is pictured during a grand re-opening of the Mobile International Airport in downtown in October 2021. (Photo by the Mobile Regional Airport via Facebook)

Continental land inquiry raises questions at home, abroad
Curry steps down as Mobile Airport Authority president
Chris Curry Continental

Former Mobile Airport Authority president Chris Curry (left) is shown in an October 2019 video touring Continental Aerospace's facility at the Mobile Brookley Aeroplex (Screengrab via Clayco)

Maisel resigns as Mobile Airport Authority chairman
MAA airport authority purchase

Mobile’s now-closed public housing developments, Thomas James Place and R.V. Taylor Plaza, which were purchased by the Mobile Airport Authority in July 2024.

Email Scott Johnson at scott@lagniappemobile.com or call his desk, 251-445-8813.

Recommended for you

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to read or post comments.