"Airport looks to increase passenger comfort"

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Airport looks to increase passenger comfort
$24M expansion project looks to add customer, staff space
By Elaine Kauh
The Green Bay (WI) Press-Gazette


ASHWAUBENON — Austin Straubel International Airport’s concourse expansion
will mean more comfort for passengers and more space for airline operations.

The $24 million project, which kicked off this month with demolition work,
will increase the number of gates from eight to 12 and add covered loading
bridges for passenger boarding.

Construction of the first new concourse is slated to begin in May.

The expansion will add more space for staff and passengers, said Kurt
Ebenhoch, spokesman for Northwest Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier.

“The gate rooms where the customers sit and wait are small,” he said of the
current facility. Some aircraft boardings take place outside.

The project will add covered boarding bridges, larger seating areas and
employee areas closer to the aircraft, making operations more efficient,
Ebenhoch said.

Demolition work for the first of the two new concourses is completed, and
three carriers have moved their gates to temporary spaces next to the main
terminal to make way for construction.

“United and American passengers should watch for directional signage which
will take them to a temporary gate facility,” said Tom Miller, airport
director.

Comair also has moved to one of Northwest’s three gates during construction.

The temporary quarters still keep passengers under one roof and flights will
otherwise operate normally, Miller said.

The first new concourse will be finished in fall 2004. Construction of the
second concourse will follow, with completion slated for late 2005 or early
2006.

The project provides the airport with 10 to 15 years of additional capacity,
Miller said.

Nine of the 12 new gates will be occupied upon completion, leaving room for
additional flights, Miller said.

“We’re currently working with existing carriers on providing additional
service,” he said.

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