Fresno Yosemite International names new director to expand air service

Mark Thorpe will take over as Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s aviation director as Fresno pushes to turn its new terminal into more flights, more international reach and a better passenger experience. City Manager Georgeanne White said she is confident he is the right leader as the airport continues to grow and evolve.

Thorpe brings 27 years of commercial aviation experience, with stops at Los Angeles International Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Ontario International Airport. His background in air service development is part of why Fresno leaders see him as a fit for an airport that is no longer just building for the future, but trying to convert recent growth into new routes and more convenient travel for Central Valley residents and businesses.

The biggest benchmark Thorpe inherits is the terminal expansion the city formally celebrated on Dec. 17, 2025. Fresno described it as the largest expansion in Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s 77-year history. The roughly $150 million project added two gates, a parking garage with double the capacity of the old structure and a new 190-foot air traffic control tower. Fresno City Council had approved a $126,866,863 construction contract for the work in February 2023.

Thorpe said he sees a tremendous opportunity to expand connectivity not just within the United States, but also to Mexico, Canada and Central America. That matters in Fresno because the airport already serves multiple cities in Mexico, including Guadalajara, León/Guanajuato and Morelia, but still does not have a direct nonstop flight to Canada in the route sources reviewed. The airport’s official site says it offers nonstop service to 14 major cities, while independent route trackers list 15 nonstop destinations.

The numbers show why the city is leaning into expansion now. Fresno Yosemite International Airport reported more than 2.6 million passengers in calendar year 2024, up 9% from 2023, then later said 2025 traffic reached 2,752,392 passengers. International travel also climbed, with 433,636 passengers between Fresno and Mexico in 2025, up from 416,885 in 2024. Cargo topped 20 million pounds last year as well.

Thorpe’s role will also cover Fresno Chandler Executive Airport, not just the commercial terminal. The city job description says the aviation director is responsible for operation, maintenance, long-range planning and fiscal management for both airports, giving him oversight of the entire city airport system as Fresno tries to build on a major construction milestone and translate it into more service, more capacity and a smoother trip through the terminal.