No. 9: Airport begins new terminal work

The airport broke ground May 17 on the new 285,000-square-foot, $119 million facility, which will contain eight passenger-loading gates capable of handling 16 aircraft.

Money for the project is coming from various sources. The city of Springfield approved a bond issue of up to $115 million Nov. 27, and that money will be combined with $7.87 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Transportation-Treasury-Housing and Urban Development spending bill approved by Congress earlier this year.

The airport’s plans include the ability to expand the terminal in the future, and if the past year’s events are any indication, that expansion capability could soon be put to use.

The airport added direct service to Tampa Bay, Fla., through low-cost carrier Allegiant Air, which also flies passengers direct from Springfield to Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. The new destinations go along with a new name – the facility changed its name from Springfield-Branson Regional Airport in early 2006 – and a new perception of the airport, according to Marketing and Communications Director Kent Boyd.

“The reality of the situation is that we are a national airport now, in that we have connections to major hubs across the country,” Boyd told Springfield Business Journal in April. “It’s truth in advertising. People see regional and subconsciously think they can’t go as many places, and hopefully, if they see national, they’ll think ‘Oh, I can go more places.’”

Passenger numbers have stayed solid in 2006, following record years in both 2004 and 2005.

Total passenger numbers are down just 2 percent for 2006 year-to-date through November, despite an 8 percent drop in the number of flights in and out of the airport due to industrywide cutbacks. Those numbers are expected to increase; Allegiant began new flights to Tampa on Dec. 13.

Boyd himself is new to the airport, joining the staff in January from his previous position with the Joplin office of the Missouri Department of Transportation.

In 2007, construction will continue as quickly as possible on the new terminal. Aviation Director Gary Cyr said that the new estimated completion date for the terminal is late fall 2008, in time for the holiday travel season and a full year ahead of the original estimate.

Construction is ahead of schedule due to lower-than-expected bids on the first phase of construction, allowing bids for the second phase to go out early.

Engineering and infrastructure work at the site has been completed, and officials are looking toward a fast-paced construction schedule in 2007.

Bids on the main construction work went out Nov. 13 and will be opened Jan. 9. The airport board will approve the winning bid at its Jan. 25 meeting.

Boyd said airport officials would like to add flights to existing destinations, and there are some key destinations they’d like to add in the near future.

“We feel like what we’re missing right now is the upper East Coast and the West,” Boyd said, mentioning destinations such as Phoenix, New York City and Washington, D.C.

Take Off

February 2006: U.S. Department of Transportation releases $7.8 million in federal construction funding.

March: Springfield City Council accepts a $10.7 million FAA grant for site work.

May 17: Airport breaks ground on new facility.

Nov. 27: Council approves $115 million in bonds to cover construction costs.

Dec. 13: Allegiant adds service to Tampa Bay, Fla.

Dec. 19: Bids for major construction work opened.

End of 2008: New midfield terminal expected to be complete.