Arnold Palmer airport 5-year plan envisions possible terminal expansion, added fire truck

A five-year plan for continued development of Arnold Palmer Regional Airport proposes additions to firefighting and snow removal equipment and renovation of the control tower.

Officials also envision a further expansion of the terminal building — a move that could be justified if the Unity airport were to land a second commercial carrier in addition to Spirit Airlines.

The Westmoreland County Airport Authority, which operates the airport, listed an estimated cost of $4 million for expanding the terminal to accommodate a third passenger boarding bridge.

“We were probably looking at another airline to do that,” said authority Executive Director Gabe Monzo. “There’s no indication of that at this time.”

The authority detailed potential airport improvements Tuesday, as required in its application to renew a passenger facility charge of $4.50 for each passenger boarding a flight at the airport. Neither Spirit nor representatives from other airlines participated in the remote meeting.

The authority would look to pay for half of the proposed terminal expansion with state funding while covering the rest of the cost through the passenger charge. That fee is projected to provide about $5.8 million for potential capital improvements at the airport through 2026.

Before the arrival of the covid-19 pandemic nearly a year ago, the airport added a second boarding bridge to better accommodate two Spirit flights arriving or departing about the same time. Minor work remains to complete a more recent improvement at the terminal — the relocation of car rental counters to a small building addition, which made way for an expanded passenger holding area with enough seating for two flights.

Under the five-year plan, the authority also is considering augmenting its two fire trucks at the airport and expanding the building that houses the firefighting and rescue equipment — at respective estimated costs of more than $1.26 million and about $1.6 million. Funding would be sought from the Federal Aviation Administration to cover the larger portion of each of those project costs.

Monzo explained the existing trucks are sufficient to provide protection for current flights at the airport — mostly Airbus planes with a maximum capacity of 175 passengers and an occasional larger version that can seat 200 or more.

If the larger planes were to visit regularly, he said, the airport would need a new truck, possibly one capable of handling more water. “One of the (trucks) we have is a 1993 model,” he said. “That one would be a backup.”

The authority also is proposing the purchase of additional snow removal equipment, at a projected cost of $800,000, and expansion of the building that holds that equipment, pegged at $1 million.

“We’re sort of behind in housing everything we have at the moment,” authority engineer Scott Kunselman said.

Improvements to the control tower, costing an estimated $400,000, also are being considered. Constructed in the 1970s, the tower could use updates to drywall and paint, Kunselman said.

The plan also calls for the airport to continue with work to strengthen the runway and apron and with reconfiguration of taxiways, a project that is expected to go to bid once it passes a review by FAA officials.

Monzo noted the recent improvements, including widening the runway from 100 feet to 150 feet, should place the airport in a good position as the air travel industry recovers from the severe downturn triggered by the pandemic.

Last year, the airport saw 123,511 passengers pass through its terminal, compared with 309,817 in 2019. But Monzo said bookings on Spirit flights are rebounding.

As of Friday, more than 5,800 passengers were booked for flights to and from Orlando during February. Nearly 750 were booked for February flights to and from Myrtle Beach, S.C., which are scheduled on Mondays and Fridays, beginning with 132 outbound bookings this Friday.

Twice-weekly flights to Ft. Myers are slated to resume in March.

“We’re very excited,” Monzo said.