Coming soon
By PRISCILLA FRULLA
Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport officials and tenants continue to celebrate unprecedented growth with a milestone ceremony for a new cargo facility today and construction on a terminal expansion wrapping up by the end of the month.
The Gulfport-Biloxi Regional Airport Authority will celebrate the "topping out" of its new cargo facility at 1 p.m. today. The $10 million, 46,000-square-foot facility will offer 20,000 square feet of chilled space when it is complete in February.
The airport terminal is also undergoing a $50 million expansion, which should be complete within weeks. Millions of dollars more is being invested in improving the property.
"I think it's going to be a very positive next several years," said airport Executive Director Bruce Frallic. "That's what comes from investment."
The terminal expansion, designed to double terminal capacity to 2.4 million passengers a year, began in 2004. Since that time more than $300 million in investments have been made in and around the airport.
"All this investment is from both the private and public sector," said Frallic. "We are delighted the private sector is so deeply involved in what we are doing,"
Investments include $52 million for two hotels set to open in April and a $15 million business center, dubbed Reflections. Two nearby restaurants are in the planning stages.
Frallic said about $43 million in cargo and general aviation ramps construction should be complete in July.
"The airport is basically growing very fast in terms of physical facilities and airline service." he said. "Once the cargo and general aviation areas are open, those will grow very fast, also."
A $6 million rental car service center is scheduled for completion within a month.
A $15 million parking garage has been proposed to begin construction late this year. Plans call for a three-level garage with 800 spaces, doubling the total parking spaces available now.
Construction on a new $30 million, 175-foot tower, funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, is expected to begin in 2008. The tower should be complete in 2010.
The airport offers 10 nonstop destinations on seven commercial airlines. Officials hope to add more carriers soon.
The airport authority marked its 30th year in August. The airport was constructed in 1942 to train flight crews for WWII; it was transferred to the city of Gulfport in 1949. Biloxi and Gulfport formed the regional authority in 1977.
The $50 million terminal expansion will bring the following services to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport:
• Seven jet gates and two ground-loading gates, with an eighth jet gate to be added in 2008.
• Two large new baggage conveyors with space for a third, in addition to original two conveyors.
• Expanded passenger screening area with multiple security lanes.
• New rental car reservation counters.
• New airline ticket counters with space for two more airlines.
• USO lounge for servicemen and women.
• VIP lounge to be constructed in 2008.
• New airside/landside gift shop, bookstore and four restaurant concessions.
• Two business centers with free Wi-Fi and work stations.
• Three covered vehicle lanes in front of the terminal.
• Three covered commercial ground-transportation lanes.
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