Regional Airports Undergo Expansions
Don Green is proud to say that Abilene Regional Airport serves more than 90,000 passengers every year.
American Eagle offers six daily passenger flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth, and corporate jets and Federal Express fly out of the airport every day, says Green, director of aviation for Abilene Regional Airport.
“We serve a 32-county market in the Texas Midwest, so we’re always pretty busy around here,” he says.
The city of Abilene operates the airport, which also is home to Eagle Aviation Services, a major heavy-maintenance base for American Eagle. Green says Abilene Regional has kept up with the times with a number of recent improvement projects, some of which took place in 2008.
A $5.7 million parking and road improvement project began in January 2008 and wrapped up in time for the Thanksgiving holiday rush. All 730 of the airport’s parking spots are now covered, and the expansion brought 103 covered parking spaces for Avis, Enterprise and Hertz rental-car operations on site.
Abilene Regional also completed a terminal improvement project in 2008 and replaced its general aviation ramp with new concrete.
“Things have been going well for us, even in a poor national economic climate,” Green says. “In fact, we are currently looking into the possibilities of eventually offering passenger flights to the West Coast.”
Other airfields in the Texas Midwest are also undergoing improvements, including San Angelo Regional Airport-Mathis Field.
The airport offers seven commercial flights daily and is in the midst of an overall $23.5 million upgrade, the latest round of which includes $3 million for apron improvements.
“Air travel is vital for a lot of companies and individuals in the Texas Midwest,” Green says. “Several people depend on smaller airports, especially to link up with Dallas-Fort Worth. The regional airports are always happy to serve every one of those passengers.”
