Post date: Oct 27, 2023
Big things have been ramping up at Tri-Cities Airport this past year! From improved safety protocols to new flight services, here’s what you can expect from recent updates to Tri-Cities Airport.
Safety updates
Safety continues to be a top priority at Tri-Cities Airport as reflected by changes to airport operations. Airport guards have transitioned to the new position of Operations Specialists. This upgraded division will have staff on-site 24/7 year-round, improving safety and security processes at the airport. Additional safety improvements are underway with runway updates being made to meet FAA compliance.
Airport expansion
Streamlining processes doesn’t stop at safety. Tri-Cities Airport is undertaking numerous efforts to make things even quicker and easier for passengers and staff. Design is currently underway to add passenger boarding bridges at multiple gates in the terminal. This project will also expand the baggage make up area, which is where the airline workers load your bags to travel out to the aircraft. This will create a more efficient luggage transfer area, while providing an enhanced safety area for employees.
In addition to those terminal projects, the Port will break ground on Phase 1 of its car rental quick turn facility, which will enable the car rentals to clean and fuel cars on site. This will provide a much safer and contained operation for the rental car agencies that operate at the airport.
The construction of Taxiway G will enable safer and quicker operations for the general aviation community. This project will also make additional land available for future development.
New services
Passengers can also expect a few new faces at Tri-Cities Airport in the form of additional tenants and flight services. Tri-Cities Airport is excited to welcome GK Real Estate, Washington Grit, Fast Talkers LLC, and Rickenbacker West LLC as new tenants. As for flight services, Alaska Airlines began 737 service to Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) earlier in the year, and American Airlines will begin service to Phoenix (PHX) in February.
With these exciting new updates being made, Tri-Cities Airport is hopeful for a return to pre-2020 air service numbers. In 2019, Tri-Cities Airport service numbers were at an all-time high with 438,123 passengers passing through airport gates. Numbers fell drastically during the Covid pandemic with Tri-Cities Airport seeing the lowest numbers since 1987. However, with travel picking up and improvements being made, Tri-Cities Airport is on pace to be close to record numbers.
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