Mayor backs old airport board as it looks for outside counsel

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT AND BRADEN SIMMONS

Two Nashville airport authority boards met Wednesday afternoon as the battle over who controls the Nashville International Airport and the smaller John Tune Airport continues.

The original board, appointed by Mayor John Cooper, met at the Metro Courthouse, while the new board, appointed by state leaders, was to meet at BNA.

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen and staff have recognized the authority of the stateappointed board, which went into effect at the beginning of July. The Federal Aviation Authority has said it will recognize the old board until a court rules on Nashville’s lawsuit against the state.

“The Airport Authority is required to follow state law as well as federal regulations and that is what the Airport Authority is doing,” the authority said in a statement Tuesday.

Cooper joined the old MNAA board at its meeting as a sign of support.

“I stand ready to support you in any way that I can,” Cooper told the board, adding: “Until we get a definitive ruling from the court, it’s important that this board continue to meet.”