Improvements at SIA include the expansion of the east and west concourses and additional ticketing areas to fill up the three other gates.
AIRWAY HEIGHTS-Spokane International Airport officials have solidified expansion plans to keep up with the needs of the continually growing city.
The first expansion of the Spokane International Airport in two decades, the project, known as TREX, will cost a total of $150 million.
"It [funding] is going to come from a combination of grant funds and a number of other things," Spokane International Airport CEO Larry Krauter said. "Between all the different sources of funding we felt confident that we could build this part of the project."
In addition to grants, passenger facility charges, CARES money and short-term financing contribute to the cost coverage.
The expansion and improvements will impact Terminal C of the Spokane International Airport, but travelers shouldn't expect any complications in their travels when ground breaks in late August.
The improvements include the expansion of the east and west concourses and additional ticketing areas to fill up the three other gates.
"For the most part this is not going to impact passengers at all. We were very thoughtful about minimizing the impact on customers," Krauter said.
Krauter said the question now is whether or not future funding will allow for the completion of subsequent phases.
The target date for phase one completion is 2025.
"It could be done sooner or later," Krauter said. "It depends on some of the unknowns."
Spokane International Airport serves a market far beyond the greater Spokane area and Spokane County.
Krauter said the GEG serves area stretches from western Montana, Wenatchee, Alberta and to north eastern Oregon.
"It's important because we have such a significant amount of in migration into this area," he said. "These facilities will allow us to work with airline partners that we already have and potentially bring in new entrance airlines to fly to new destinations as well."
With expansion comes the possibility of more destinations and direct flights for the large market area GEG serves.
"There are a lot of upsides to creating new gates and there's a number of enhancements for passengers, especially with new technology we're adding," Krauter said. "All this will create a really nice front door image for the region."
Michaela is a former newsroom intern at the Cheney Free Press. She covered stories on education, city government, cops/courts/fire departments and local businesses.
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