Grand Rapids Airport (GRR) News and Developments

[RiversideGR]

On 4/9/2024 at 10:22 AM, joeDowntown said:

They opened a Freddy's at the airport. A delicious new option.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/04/freddys-frozen-custard-steakburger-opens-location-in-grand-rapids-airport.html

Joe

I think it is great that we are getting more options and I'm sure people (especially families) will utilize it. It took me a while to realize that I don't enjoy eating heavy foods before a flight...I don't feel great after and the passengers in the seats next to me also won't appreciate it. I love Freddy's but it's something I eat in the privacy of my own home when nobody is there to see me cramming fries into my mouth between bites of my burger.  I had a good salad at the Aletitude spot in the new terminal recently. 

It is hard to say how far out that new space will extend based on that rendering, but it looks something like this:

 

[GVSUChris]

12 minutes ago, RiversideGR said:

I think it is great that we are getting more options and I'm sure people (especially families) will utilize it. It took me a while to realize that I don't enjoy eating heavy foods before a flight...I don't feel great after and the passengers in the seats next to me also won't appreciate it. I love Freddy's but it's something I eat in the privacy of my own home when nobody is there to see me cramming fries into my mouth between bites of my burger.  I had a good salad at the Aletitude spot in the new terminal recently. 

It is hard to say how far out that new space will extend based on that rendering, but it looks something like this:

 

I think you are correct in that. 
There is also this photo rendering. 

[MJLO]

Should we start a go fund me to move that janky ass old traffic control tower?  It’s the last remaining feature that makes GRR look like it has goats grazing near the runway. 

[mgreven]

1 hour ago, RiversideGR said:

I think it is great that we are getting more options and I'm sure people (especially families) will utilize it. It took me a while to realize that I don't enjoy eating heavy foods before a flight...I don't feel great after and the passengers in the seats next to me also won't appreciate it. I love Freddy's but it's something I eat in the privacy of my own home when nobody is there to see me cramming fries into my mouth between bites of my burger.  I had a good salad at the Aletitude spot in the new terminal recently. 

It is hard to say how far out that new space will extend based on that rendering, but it looks something like this:

 

Thank you!  I couldn't figure out what this expansion was.  The renderings kind of look like it looks now.  This makes so much more sense.  Eager to see it done!

My sister (who grew up in GR) flew in last March and was shocked and how much more "big city" the airport looks now.  (Granted, she lives in a small southern town but I'm glad she was impressed!)

[organsnyder]

During our vacation last summer, my family flew out of terminal B and into terminal A. It felt like we were landing in a different city.

[GRDadof3]

$80 Million of that is the new baggage handling system. That's a massive contract for whoever is doing the handling system. 

"Behind the scenes, there will also be a new automated system for getting checked bags from the counter through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspection and then onto the plane. That system accounts for $80 million of the project’s $135 million price tag. TSA will put $30 million toward the new system." - from Mlive

The rendering of the terminal expansion...

 

 

 

 

Also, call me not as tuned in as I used to be, but I picked someone up at the airport last night and there's a tower crane at the east end of the terminal area. What was that for again? 

Edit: is that the car rental consolidation and expansion? 

[GRDadof3]

On 1/17/2024 at 12:33 AM, walker said:

Construction as of 1-11-2024 of the new consolidated car rental facility:

 

Never mind, found my answer in this thread. 

[joeDowntown]

Yep, it's the car rental expansion. 

I wonder if the expansion will remove a gate in terminal A, or if they'll still be able to maneuver a plane in with the new addition. 

I'm also a bit surprised they didn't extend the wave canopy a bit with the expansion (all the way (or close) to the eastern edge of the parking ramp.

Joe

[walker]

More construction ground breaking at GRR.   This time for a new garage for the snow plows and blowers:

GRR PRESS RELEASE: Ford International Airport Breaks Ground on $8.5 Million Snow Removal Equipment Building

The placard in the press release photo of  the ground breaking dirt pile doesn't seem to match the press release content:

[Zads]

The airport is expanding snow removal services on the runway.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/05/grand-rapids-airports-85m-project-aims-to-improve-runway-snow-removal.html

[cstonesparty]

2 hours ago, Zads said:

The airport is expanding snow removal services on the runway.

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2024/05/grand-rapids-airports-85m-project-aims-to-improve-runway-snow-removal.html

With reduced snowfall over recent years I'm surprised they didn't position this as maintenance and equipment storage instead of snow removal equipment.  

[joeDowntown]

Not an exciting route, but another direct flight (to Las Vegas) from Southwest:

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/southwest-to-offer-direct-flights-from-gr-to-las-vegas/

[HavingAhoot]

Hey I don't mind another option for a mid February  winter blues long wknd  trip to Vegas! Plus Allegiant flight to Vegas is the same crowd as a fireball cruise line from Jacksonville to Daytona. 

[MJLO]

March passenger numbers finally came out.  390k passengers in 2024.  That’s  a nearly 20% surge in growth.  Airport is up 18.83% on the year for the first 3 months.  If it keeps that momentum passenger traffic could hit 4.5 million for the year.  That would put the market much closer to its peer metros.

[joeDowntown]

3 hours ago, HavingAhoot said:

Hey I don't mind another option for a mid February  winter blues long wknd  trip to Vegas! Plus Allegiant flight to Vegas is the same crowd as a fireball cruise line from Jacksonville to Daytona. 

Agreed. The nice things about routes to destinations we already have is that it brings choice, and hopefully, more competition. 

Would love to see United, American or Delta start announcing some new daily routes. 

[GR8scott]

expanded service is great. LAS is a good one since its very limited from here, still would like to see more daily/year around instead of all the seasonal routes, its actually pretty strange how many seasonal routes GRR has for not being a seasonal destination like TVC. Also strange with the added/reno concourse A where the legacy carriers have it all to themselves, the past several expanded services were all low cost carriers out of concourse B and to destinations already served! Again theoretically good for competitive prices and time options but when are we going to see more NEW destinations from legacy carriers and year round service to places like PHX, MIA and legacy to places like LAX and BOS....AND would love to see other new hubs served; JFK, SEA, SLC, SFO and bring back Dulles and Toronto! 

[cstonesparty]

48 minutes ago, GR8scott said:

expanded service is great. LAS is a good one since its very limited from here, still would like to see more daily/year around instead of all the seasonal routes, its actually pretty strange how many seasonal routes GRR has for not being a seasonal destination like TVC. Also strange with the added/reno concourse A where the legacy carriers have it all to themselves, the past several expanded services were all low cost carriers out of concourse B and to destinations already served! Again theoretically good for competitive prices and time options but when are we going to see more NEW destinations from legacy carriers and year round service to places like PHX, MIA and legacy to places like LAX and BOS....AND would love to see other new hubs served; JFK, SEA, SLC, SFO and bring back Dulles and Toronto! 

+1 for Dulles direct please...