Spokane Airports CEO Larry Krauter is departing Spokane for a similar job at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, in the Ohio-Kentucky border town of Hebron, Kentucky.

Krauter, 58, has led Spokane Airports, which includes Spokane International Airport, Felts Field, and Spokane International Airport Business Park, since March 2011.

“Larry has been an incredible leader of the operation over the past 14 years, managing our airports successfully through eras of unprecedented challenge, growth, and expansion,” Ezra Eckhardt, Spokane Airports Board chair says in a statement issued by Spokane Airports. “He has made a tremendous and lasting impact on our region.”

Spokane International Airport is in the midst of a $150 million terminal expansion plan known as TREX, which is expected to generate nearly 1,200 jobs and over $300 million in economic activity in Washington state, according to the airport’s website.

During his tenure at Spokane Airports, Krauter was part of efforts to grow an aerospace manufacturing hub here and a campaign to convince Boeing Co. to build its next aircraft in Washington state.

Since Krauter took the helm, the total annual passenger count at Spokane International Airport rose from to a record 4.1 million in 2019 from 3.1 million in 2011. Total cargo transported through the airport rose to 77,200 tons in 2023 from 46,900 tons in 2011, according to the Journal's Market Fact Book research.

While leading Spokane Airports, Krauter has served as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives and recently received the Walt Strong Advocacy Award for his support for the Federal Aviation Administration contract tower program.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Krauter will replace Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport CEO Candace McGraw who is scheduled to retire on March 3.

Eckhart says the Spokane Airport Board will work on an immediate and long-term transition plan to identify a new CEO to continue the momentum that Krauter has led.