Provo • The Provo Airport needs to expand in order to make the leap to the next level — starting with a new terminal — and now is a critical time to do the project, says Isaac Paxman, Provo deputy mayor.
Provo City recently received an $8 million federal grant to be put toward construction of new tarmac, but according to Paxman, a second terminal needs to be built first to use the funds. Money for the new terminal construction, estimated at $14.5 million, needs to be secured within a couple of years to avoid forfeiting the federal funds.
“We have the basics in place, we have really everything that we need, except for that terminal,” Paxman told The Tribune in an interview. “It would be really painful if we have to kiss that $8 million goodbye.”
Paxman said the city is scrambling to find a solution. He is confident a second terminal would widen the airport’s reach by potentially expanding to more destinations, bringing in new airlines and allowing more frequent flights.
Currently, Allegiant Airlines is the only commercial airline operating out of Provo, and the airport’s single terminal only allows for a few flights daily.
“The heated conversation right now is ‘how do we make the terminal happen so we can get the $8 million for the other tarmac and really take the airport to another level,’” Paxman said. “I think it can help a lot of people in the valley here, it’s not really just a Provo story.”
(Sahalie Donaldson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Provo -- Steve Gleason, manager of the Provo Airport, talks about airport expansion as he makes a budget presentation to the Provo City Council, Jan. 22, 2019.
Airport Manager Steve Gleason recently delivered a budget presentation to the Provo City Council in which he, too, emphasized the importance of a second terminal.
While Gleason said Provo Airport will never compete with Salt Lake City International Airport, it has a role to play as a smaller alternative just 50 miles south. The Salt Lake airport is now undergoing a $3 billion expansion.
“We don’t have any intention to ever be anywhere near the size of Salt Lake. That is not the goal. Salt Lake is a major hub — it is a huge airport,” Gleason said in an interview with The Tribune. “We just think the [Provo Airport] will be a convenient alternative for people when possible.”
But to properly serve these travelers, a new terminal is vital, Gleason added.
The Provo Airport terminal of about 6,000 square feet could eventually be expanded to 70,000 square feet of terminal space, Gleason said.
“I don’t think we need to do that right now. I think we can do that much smaller and accomplish our goals and our needs,” he said. “What we really need is to be able to get at least two gates, preferably four gates.”
Provo City already owns the land where the proposed expansion will take place, and Gleason said the city intends to build another parking lot to accommodate growth. The new terminal is proposed to be built south of the Utah Valley University air school.
An environmental impact study is underway. The impact is expected be minimal and the study should be completed in the early spring, Gleason said.
One of Gleason’s long-term goals is to open up multiple daily flights to Denver and Los Angeles with connecting services.
He also said he recommends the city purchase any available land in the area to accommodate future expansions.