Construction of a new, larger terminal at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity is about two months behind schedule, officials said Tuesday.
This winter’s cold and snow delayed ongoing work to build the foundation for the $22 million, 32,000-square-foot terminal that will double the size of the flight waiting areas, add a second passenger gate and provide for new TSA security gates, said authority engineer Scott Kunselman.
Phase 1 of the terminal project was expected to be completed and ready for use in December. Kunselman said it now appears the terminal construction won’t be finished until February.
Authority board members awarded contracts Tuesday for the renovation of the authority’s passenger bridge, which links the terminal building to aircraft, and the purchase of a second bridge that officials said is necessary to accommodate what is expected to be a larger passenger load at the expanded airport.
A $899,049 contract was awarded to Dabico A-Bridge of Indianapolis to renovate the existing bridge and a $1.3 million deal with Oshkosh Aerotech of Florida for $1.3 million to construct a new bridge for the airport. The new bridge is expected to be delivered in August 2026.
Bids for work on Phase 2 of the expansion to relocate administrative offices and install a new baggage conveyor system are expected to be opened in April and contracts to be awarded this spring, Kunselman said.
The terminal expansion project is funded primarily through state and federal grants. Kunselman said federal funding freezes and cuts are not expected to impact the work.
Construction will continue throughout the year and minimally impact airport operations as its flight schedule increases this spring, according to authority manager Gabe Monzo.
The airport announced last week that its lone commercial carrier, Spirit Airlines, will resume twice-weekly flights to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on May 8. The airline announced last month it would resume seasonal daily flights to Myrtle Beach, S.C., on May 7. Spirit also returned to operating daily flights to Orlando, Fla., this year.
With the new flight schedule in place, officials are bracing for days when as many 1,800 passengers can pass through the airport via three round-trip flights.
“Hopefully, they all won’t show up all at once, but we’re ready for it,” Monzo said.