Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport Growth Continues to Soar
EGLIN AFB — The latest project to add hundreds of parking spots at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) is anticipated to be completed by Memorial Day, said Okaloosa County Airports Director Tracy Stage.
"We completed a 350-parking-space expansion just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday and we're about to bid a 600-space parking lot expansion, which will be situated next to the new concourse C," Stage said Friday.
Both projects represent an enlargement of parking lot B, on the airport's west side, and are a big part of the airport's overall growth.
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The 950 new spots will bring the total number of public parking spaces at VPS to more than 2,500.
The 350-space project was part of a $2 million project that includes the ongoing expansion of an aircraft parking apron. The project to add 600 spaces will cost about $2.9 million.
Airport and Florida Department of Transportation money paid for the 350-space expansion and also will pay for the 600-space expansion.
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The airport's long-range plan includes construction of a four-story parking garage in front of the airport, said County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, who is the liaison between the board and the Airports Department. The number of spaces in the garage hasn't been determined yet.
Besides the 900-parking-space project, bids will go out soon for the construction of concourse C on the west side of the terminal. Concourses contain the boarding gate hold rooms where passengers board the planes.
Construction of concourse C is expected to begin in March or April and be finished next January.
"We will begin utilizing it in March 2021," Stage said.
Allegiant Airlines, which last week announced five new routes to and from VPS, will pay upfront for the concourse project.
It's expected to cost at least $4 million. Allegiant will be reimbursed by the county via a $9 charge per passenger, with the final reimbursement payment anticipated to occur by 2026.
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"Allegiant has made us so competitive, and they made us a hub" since coming to the airport five years ago, Ketchel said. "And the legacy airlines came in and dropped their fares. We've literally had overnight success in the past five years."
She added that thanks to Stage and the county Aviation Board, the airport represents "the biggest success of our entire county in years."
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