For those reasons, and apparently more, Anderson fired Roy Williams on Wednesday after hiring him barely five months ago.

"I don't want to see Roy hurt through this," Anderson said. "I'm sure this is very difficult for him. But I must say he, unfortunately, didn't leave me or the airport board any choice."

Anderson was alerted to the problems - he said the financial expenditure was a "small part" of the cause for termination, though he would not discuss other reasons - by airport employees. He said he conducted an investigation and, in consultation with members of the airport board, decided he had to "urgently" replace Williams. The mayor said he offered to let the director resign, but he declined.

Williams didn't make himself available Wednesday for comment, though his personal spokesman released a statement.

"I am extremely disappointed by today's action," Williams said, noting he took the job to address challenges facing the airport, including the growth of the Delta/SkyWest airline hub, the increase in local passenger traffic and the airport's aging infrastructure.

"I remain convinced that a forward-thinking and proactive approach to addressing the real airport-development challenges will be essential for the future success of Salt Lake City International Airport as well as economic development and tourism throughout Utah and the Intermountain region," the statement said.

Anderson said he was informed that Williams spent between $300,000 and $500,000 for consultants without the consent of the board or the mayor. The mayor acknowledged such approval isn't required. But he said the expense was "unnecessary."

"Apparently Mr. Williams wanted to throw out the entire master plan, . . . which had gone through enormous and very open scrutiny. He seemed to be trying to supplant his vision for what was already in place. That would have included basically ripping up millions of dollars in improvements that had been made recently - consistent with our existing master plan."

In an e-mail to The Salt Lake Tribune, Williams said he believed he followed city policy. Noting the airport already had spent more than $14 million on the terminal master plan, he wrote that he was "simply extending the existing task order, which has been done several times before and which was something I was authorized to do in my capacity as executive director."

Williams recently was quoted in a KSL-TV story as saying the airport needed $1 billion worth of renovations - a statement made without the authorization of the mayor or the board. "We're out of gates. We're out of facilities. Bag claim is very crowded," Williams told the station earlier this month.

On Wednesday, airport board Chairman Keith Christensen, who is running for mayor as Anderson's handpicked successor, said he and the board fully support the decision to fire Williams.

"The mayor had appropriate cause for termination. It's unfortunate and really is disappointing," Christensen said, adding that he was with Anderson on Sunday night at City Hall when the mayor outlined his concerns to Williams. "It was not criminal. It was a combination of management style and poor decisions."

Ron Reber, president and chief operating officer of regional carrier SkyWest Airlines, which operates more flights from the airport than any other airline, was surprised that Williams had been fired.

"I don't know any of the details. But we've had an amicable relationship with the airport in the past, and we are ready to work with whoever the next director may be to continue to have a good and healthy relationship," Reber said through his spokeswoman, Sabrena Suite-Mangum.

Delta Air Lines executives, who have known Williams since his five-year stint as director of aviation at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, declined to comment.

A few days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, Williams gave Delta CEO Gerald Grinstein and Joe Kolshak, Delta's chief of operations, a tour of that city's airport, which was closed except for one runway and was being used as a refugee center.

More recently, Williams flew to Atlanta with Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and others in August to urge Delta to launch its first nonstop route from Salt Lake City to Paris or London next summer. Upon his return, Williams said it was unlikely Delta would begin direct service before 2008.

Anderson is bringing back longtime employee Russ Pack to lead the airport until a permanent director can be found. Pack was interim director before the city hired Williams. Pack also was director of airport administration and commercial services. He had retired at the end of August after 28 years with the city.

Christensen said the airport is "lucky" to have Pack back. Asked if the airport will suffer from Williams' decisions, Christensen noted key senior staffers remain at the airport and are "extremely well-qualified."

Said Anderson: "I don't think there's been any long-term damage."

Williams took the helm May 30. The Twin Falls, Idaho, native previously had worked in Salt Lake City for a law firm and helped develop the 1983 bond issue that paid for the Western Airlines hub expansion at the airport.

"I have long looked forward to returning to Salt Lake City and the opportunity to assist the community in having safe, secure and customer-friendly aviation facilities. I am saddened that I won't be able to follow through on the initiatives under way," Williams said in his statement.

hmay@sltrib.com

pbeebe@sltrib.com

SLC airport by the numbers

* Served 22.2 million passengers in 2005, the highest number in its history.

* Ranked as 25th busiest in the nation and 50th in the world in 2005.

* Provides more than 800 scheduled daily flights.

* Serves more than 100 cities with nonstop flights.

* Houses Delta Air Line's second-largest hub - the largest hub in the West.

* Finished first in the nation last year for on-time departures and second for on-time arrivals.

* Consists of two terminals, five concourses and 80 gates.

* Located within 60 miles of 11 world-class ski resorts.

Source: www.slcairport.com