Yvette Aehle’s still settling into the rhythm of her new digs, putting out the proverbial fires that spring up here and there that are typical with a significant move into a new workplace. But the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport director told members of the Albany-Dougherty Aviation Commission Monday that finding the right concessions option for the airport’s new terminal building will soon move up significantly on her priority list.

Aehle said she’s reached out casually to a few local food vendors to gauge their interest in setting up shop at the airport but the talks were only informational in nature.

“I wanted to get feedback from a company with name recognition, so I talked with two local Subway franchise owners and with Frank Ross, the owner of the Cinnabon franchise at the Albany Mall,” Aehle told commissioners. “They were interested in talking with me, but their primary concern is the traffic count at the airport. It’s hard for a concessioner to make money without a high volume of potential customers.”

Ross, who with his wife, Sarah, owns Cinnabon franchises in Albany and Columbus, stressed Thursday that his conversation with Aehle is not an indication that a location at the airport is imminent.

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