With the symbolic snipping of a red ribbon, the new expansion of the terminal at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport is now open and ready for business.
A ceremony was held Wednesday to mark completion of the new $15 million expansion and renovation of the terminal, which is the first major renovation of the facility since 1994.
Along with government representatives from Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha counties, others attending the ceremony included city officials from Columbus, West Point and Starkville, Columbus Air Force Base, and members of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport Authority commissioners including Bobby Harper, George Irby, Arthur Kelly, Robin McCormick and Frank Chiles.
GTR Airport Executive Director Mike Hainsey said the improvement will help meet the needs of those who use the airport.
“We designed these changes to keep up with the industrial growth in our area both now and in the future,” he said.
The renovation project included the addition of a 6,000 square foot seating area that will hold up to 160 passengers past the screening checkpoint and an additional gate for boarding.
There have also been upgrades to terminal lighting, cooling systems and flooring, along with other modifications.
Hainsey said the group who attended Wednesday”s ceremony showed the commitment they have to the communities that represent Golden Triangle Regional Airport.
“This is an example of how our communities can come together and work together. We are also proud of our relationship with Columbus Air Force Base, who is a great community partner with us. At least 40 percent of our traffic at GTR is training planes from CAFB,” Hainsey said.
Rans Black, manager for the Jackson region airports office of the Federal Aviation Administration said in his remarks how he was pleased with the planning and foresight shown in expanding the terminal.
“The Airport Authority should be commended for their planning and foresight as this serves a great example of how a partnership between the FAA and the airport can support the communities they serve,” he said.
The terminal project is just part of other improvements that are in the planning stages at GTR. Hainsey said other improvements are scheduled to start in the next 12 months. He said this includes the installation of a state-of-the-art instrument landing system, a runway expansion to increase safety and capacity and a renovation of the parking area.
“We are planning to expand the runway by 1,500 feet to make it 8,000 feet in an effort to allow bigger planes to come in. We want to think in terms of the long range of 5 to 10 years,” Hainsey said.
The $15 million project is funded by FAA grants, state funds, and ticket taxes from passengers” tickets, he added.
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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