HSVTiger

More options available for Chicago in September when a United Airlines affiliate begins offering two daily round-trip, nonstop flights. Huntsville International Airport officials said Monday that United Airlines will begin offering the flights Sept. 2 on 50-seat regional jets operated by Mesa Air Group as United Express. Huntsville has daily nonstop flights to 11 U.S. cities. American Airlines offers one daily nonstop flight to Chicago.

Airlines expect tough going By KEITH CLINES Times Staff Writer [email protected] Carriers plan to cut flights, number of seats available Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority officials are bracing for hard times to continue after a 2008 that started good then turned sour. Though the airport saw an increase in the number of passengers last year over 2007, airlines serving this area plan to cut the number of flights and seats available. Passenger traffic at the airport was down 2.9 percent in December compared to December 2007. For all of 2008, more than 1.25 million passengers passed through the airport, missing the record year of 2005 by 12,051 passengers.

Expansion plans announced http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/loc....xml&coll=1

http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes....xml&coll=1 A new west wing, the first of two wings planned, is scheduled to open next month, and passengers flying into and out of the airport will be diverted to that space. The public-waiting and security-screening areas will be housed there.

Airport passengers increased 1 percent in June and 2.9 percent in July year over year. Year to date, passenger traffic at Huntsville is 754,049, or 7.1 percent higher than the same seven-month period last year. In other business Tuesday, Butch Roberts, the airport's deputy director, said bids are in for the next phase of the parking deck expansion, which includes road improvements. Reed Construction had the low bid at more than $4.3 million, and the airport also bid two alternates, totaling $559,125, to replace original streetlights south of James Record Road and upgrade signs in the same area. http://www.al.com/business/huntsvilletimes....xml&coll=1

Passenger count at Huntsville International Airport through June reached 640,153. A 7.9% increase over the same period last year.

By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer [email protected] 92-acre site will double the park's warehouse space A Connecticut developer's plans to build more than 2 million square feet of office and warehouse facilities in Jetplex Industrial Park South would double the park's warehouse/distribution space. J.A. Green Development, based in Greenwich, Conn., said it will buy 92 acres in the park and soon begin building an air-cargo and distribution building of about 100,000 square feet. The 92-acre site will house about 1 million square feet of office/warehouse space eventually, according to the company.

"The tragedy of a 5-year-old child dying at the Air Show 2008 likely won't prevent future air shows from being planned at the Huntsville International Airport. At a press conference Tuesday morning, airport executive director Rick Tucker said the decision was made years ago to give the community a quality air show about every five years, with the first one happening in 2003 and the second in 2008. While he said the entire airport staff was offering prayers and sympathies to the family of Aaron Josiah Miller, he said it was important to continue providing the kind of air show entertainment that the child so dearly loved." HSV Times

Through May 525,946 passengers , up 9.5% from last year. So far the impact of the airline industry slump has been a bit less than expected. No flights have been cancelled by any carriers Continental, still is running the HSV to Houston nonstops. Allegiant did drop service, but it's their fault they are a very niche type of airline but hated to lose their service. Business travel is 68% which may explain the less of an impact. What may happen is a change of aircraft from mainline to regional jets but I don't see that working unless they add more flights. As long as the passenger load remains high they can justify the bigger jets.

Huntsville Times The Federal Aviation Administration today dedicates its new 228-foot-tall air traffic control tower at Huntsville International Airport. The tower, which became operational a month ago, is 132 feet taller than the original 40-year-old structure and gives controllers an unblocked view of the entire airfield. The tower's construction and equipment cost is $18.5 million. The old tower will be released to the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority if it wants the structure, or, if not, the FAA will demolish the tower. It would be neat if they could use the old tower somehow, maybe a restaurant or an aircraft observatory for school children. Access/security would probably be an issue.

New hotel under construction An $11 million apartment-style hotel will begin construction in August adjacent to the old Sweetwater Plantation, and tourism officials expect it will accommodate visitors during peak tourism times. The Marriott Residence Inn is expected to be completed by the fall of 2009, bring 35-40 jobs and is projected to have $2.8 million in revenue for its first year. The hotel will have a total of 110 studio, one bedroom and two bedroom suites that will include full kitchens, will be larger than typical hotel rooms and will resemble the layout of an apartment. "The goal of the property is to provide a homelike atmosphere with business amenities and give a sense of community to its patrons," says Tony Contigiani, regional director of operations for Yedla Management Co., the project's developer out of Huntsville. "This can be achieved by guests connecting with guests, connecting with the associates and connecting with the community," he said. http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080522.../805220327/1011

This is a big building.. from WAFF 4,000 feet long, 700 feet wide. It will soon be the North Alabama railcar plant. Project executive Paul Panelli says the biggest challenge with this project has been the design. "As new process equipment vendors have been coming on board, we learn more about that equipment so it's caused some changes to the design very late in the process," Panelli said. A process that's taken 300,000 man hours and 90 days of construction so far; but this project hasn't worn Panelli down. "Very excited when we first started the project and the level of excitement has continued to build throughout the project.," he said. A project that started with 300 workers on site, and will ultimately provide jobs for 1800 people.

The Federal Aviation Administration commissioned the new 228-foot-tall airport traffic control tower at Huntsville International Airport on Sunday morning. "The new tower provides an ideal environment for air traffic controllers to continue to provide the safest service to the flying public," said Doug Murphy, FAA southern regional administrator. "With an increased height and advanced technology, this new facility is poised to support the impressive growth of the Huntsville airport today and well into the future." The new tower is a mile south of the existing one in a gated, fenced complex, and is located between the airport's two parallel runways. The project includes the tower, a 10,500-square-foot base building, a generator building and parking. Hsv Times

Some updates In 2005-2006 the west runway 18R/36L was lengthened to 12,600ft in a $31m project making it the second longest in south-east USA, however there are now plans to lengthen the two runways, to build a new runway and also for the construction of a new terminal building. The new 12,600ft long runway will allow Boeing 747s to be turned around in two hours and be fuelled up for direct Asia-Alabama flights for cargo and passengers. A new 84,000-square-foot air cargo building at the International Intermodal Center. Plans are for the building to be completed by January 2009. The authority also gave the go-ahead to enter into a ground lease agreement with McLean, Va.-based Aviation Facilities Co. Inc. for property at the intermodal center. Yates Construction Co., based in Philadelphia, Miss., and RW Armstrong, based in Indianapolis, will build a facility for WestWind Technologies Inc. to maintain, repair and overhaul aircraft and aircraft parts. WestWind is a Huntsville-based defense contractor. The 63,000-square-foot hangar will be large enough to accommodate two Air Force C-130 aircraft and additional helicopters, said Brooks Kracke, the director of Jetplex Industrial Park. one side of the new concourse waiting area, this project to be completed in 2009

Air Show coming this summer http://www.hsvairport.org/airshow/index.html

Coming this summer Air Show in Huntsville, http://www.hsvairport.org/airshow/index.html

Cranes over the new parking deck construction

Airport staying pro active.. By MARIAN ACCARDITimes Business Writer [email protected] Facility will be able to handle 2 million passengers Huntsville International Airport is in the midst of an ambitious $65 million terminal improvement plan, which includes upgrading the food and beverage areas and expanding the baggage claim and public waiting areas. Even though expansion plans were approved by the Huntsville/Madison County Airport Authority in 2004 - the year before the Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision to move several commands to Redstone Arsenal - the project should help out with the expected influx of new residents. "We're expanding the facility to meet a normal 20-year growth pattern," yet still have the ability to expand for sudden growth if needed, said Rick Tucker, the airport's executive director. "Once the expansion is complete, we could easily handle 2 million passengers." The airport could actually handle more passengers, Tucker said, though they might feel a bit cramped at peak times. The Huntsville airport in 2007 served 1.24 million passengers, according to airport figures. Growth in passengers Tucker said airport executives have been working with Redstone Arsenal officials to try to get a handle on what impact the BRAC moves will have on passenger travel here. "I think everybody believes that there will be growth in the Washington market," said Tucker. "We're already seeing some of that now." If traffic doubled at the airport, Tucker said, another major airport project would be necessary - shifting ticketing to the west of the main entrance. "Unless we get close to doubling traffic, we won't need to do that, though," said Tucker. The expansion project includes: Two new wings that will feature 30-foot-high windows for a view of the airfield, adding 14,000 square feet to the terminal. That project will result in 20,000 square feet of public waiting space. An expanded concession area that will feature new retail and food and beverage operations. A parking deck expansion, to the east of the existing deck, that will add more than 1,300 spaces, bringing the number of deck spaces to more than 2,900. A baggage claim expansion and new flight information displays. Huntsville International Airport had its busiest year on record in 2005 - with more than 1.26 million passengers. Traffic numbers dropped off after that year, said Tucker, and "now we're starting to grow again. "We'll set another record in 2008 if we continue to grow."

Update on construction at Huntsville International Airport.. The Taxiway L project will allow direct connection from the cargo terminals to the 12,600' west runway. This will accomodate 747 and A380 freighters, and will allow concourse expansion. By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer [email protected] Expanded area could be open for business Saturday, official says Huntsville International Airport passengers will soon be able to take advantage of some of the improvements in the airport's $65 million expansion and renovation project. A new and expanded concession area could be ready by Saturday, said Luther "Butch" Roberts Jr., the airport's deputy director. The concessions area, located in the airport's concourse, will more than double to about 6,000 square feet. The projects and their estimated completion dates are: Parking deck expansion, which will add more than 1,300 spaces, bringing the number of deck spaces to more than 2,900 - December. Public waiting expansion, which will add 14,000 square feet, bringing the waiting space area to 20,000 square feet, with seating for more than 200 people - June 2009. A new air cargo building at the International Intermodal Center, which will include about 92,000 square feet - February 2009. Security system improvement - October. Taxiway "L" between the airport's east and west runways - October. Dirt work on a new Jetplex Industrial Park north access road linking the airport's entrance to Wall Triana Highway - July. The switch from the airport's air traffic control tower to the new 219-foot, $20.7 million tower is expected to occur at midnight on May 4, said Roberts. The new tower is twice as tall as the structure built 40 years ago. The new tower is located to the south of the older one.

Parking Deck construction Parker Building photos

sweet, great pics as usual. DC 10's were great passenger planes.

By MARIAN ACCARDI Times Business Writer [email protected] 97,350 passengers used facility in February Huntsville International Airport reported a record in passenger traffic for February, with 97,350 travelers using the airport. That exceeds by 5.6 percent the previous record for the month set three years ago and exceeds the number of passengers last February by 17.4 percent. "Across the board, we saw really good increases for our activities," said Rick Tucker, executive director of the Port of Huntsville, which includes the airport, International Intermodal Center and Jetplex Industrial Park. In other news, United Airlines has added a second daily flight to Denver and a third daily flight to Dulles near Washington, D.C., for the next two weeks during the spring break/holiday season, said Barbie Peek, the airport's director of marketing.