Grand Island airport sees steady passenger increase
by
Josh Egbert
Story Created:
Feb 22, 2012 at 6:44 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 22, 2012 at 6:44 PM CDT
Growing by leaps and bounds. The number of passengers using the Central Nebraska Regional Airport has grown by over 200 percent over the past three years.
And that growth means changes for the airport itself. That includes, a new airport terminal.
When flights come in and out of there, it can get pretty cramped, but relief is on the way.
A committee gathered earlier this week to begin planning that new terminal.
They say this current 11,000 square foot facility would need to more than double in size to accommodate the current airport traffic.
The high passenger demand has created the need here in Grand Island.
"The boarding numbers speak for themselves," said Central Nebraska Regional Airport Director Mike Olson.
Up 500% over the last 4 years.
"A lot of that is obviously Allegiant and then now, since last June, American Eagle," Olson said.
And those numbers are expected to steadily rise over the next few years. Good for business, but...
"The terminal's not big enough for what we have right now," said Olson.
That will be changing.
"The plan is, yes, indeed to build a new terminal, exactly how big, depends on the funding that's going to be available," Olson said.
The current terminal is 11,000 square feet. Consultants say it needs to double that with the current amount of traffic the airport sees
"It causes a lot of congestions in the terminal and the whole logistics is pretty backwards," Olson said.
Aviation forecasts predict nearly 60,000 passengers will use the airport in 2012, meaning less people are traveling to Lincoln or Omaha to catch flights.
"Our big selling point is the convenience of flying out of your own backyard, free parking, easy access in and out and things of that nature," said Olson.
Olson says if all goes according to plan, construction of the new terminal would begin next spring or summer.
As for future growth, he says after this year, he expects between 3 to 5 percent growth a year.
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