"Airport director: Minot needs facility three times current size"

Friday, March 23, 2012

Airport director: Minot needs facility three times current size
By ELOISE OGDEN
The Minot (ND) Daily News


Minot has one of the fastest growing airports in the U.S. and needs a
terminal three times the size of the existing one, says Andy Solsvig,
director of the Minot International Airport.

Solsvig, who spoke Thursday to members of the Minot Area Chamber of
Commerce's Energy Committee, said terminal requirements, in planning for
30-year growth, includes the need for a 100,000-square-foot facility. The
existing terminal has 32,400 square feet.

Minot's need is for a facility comparable or larger than the terminal in
Bismarck, he said.

The current facility has two gates but needs at least four.

Currently, the airport has vehicle parking for 800 vehicles (450 paved), but
a need for parking for 1,500 vehicles, although they might need more,
Solsvig said.

With the existing terminal, building expansion is not easily attainable, but
a new building will allow for expansion, he said.

The present terminal, completed in 1991, was built for two airlines and
100,000 passengers. United, Delta and Allegiant all have been adding
flights. An upgrade of the existing terminal was just completed, at a cost
of $300,000.

Minot's air travel numbers have been on the rise since 2009, much of it
attributed to the oil boom. Air travel out of Minot increased 63 percent and
85 percent, respectively, in January and February, Solsvig said.

"If that rate continues, we're going to break 220,000 easily this year for a
building that was meant for 100,000 passengers a year and two airlines, so
this is why we are fast-tracking every project that we're trying to do,"
Solsvig said.

Afterward, Solsvig said the airport has plenty of land for 30-year growth.

Currently, a terminal area study is being done and is intended to be made
public in the next month or two, he said.

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