What will Albany's Airport Look Like in 2030?
Feb. 10—COLONIE — The last master plan was a whopper.
Albany County Airport, thanks in part to a $220 million building project in the late 1990s, became Albany International Airport. Jet bridges replaced the rain-or-shine stroll across the tarmac, multi-level parking garages connected to the terminal supplementing the open-air parking, gift shops and food vendors proliferated, and the airport finally got a Northway exit to call its own.
But air travel also is facing challenges unforeseen back then, from increased security screening to social distancing and health screening.
An airport plays a central role in the economic health of a region.
"The aviation pioneer Billy Mitchell once said — 'If you would measure the heartbeat of a community — take the pulse of her airport,'" said Phil Calderone, CEO of the Albany International Airport, as he announced the start of a two-year effort on Tuesday to update the airport's master plan.
"It's been nearly 28 years since we've taken that pulse," he added. "Over those 28 years our Airport, our region and our world have changed dramatically."
On Tuesday, two committees gathered in the Million Air hangar at the airport to begin work on an updated master plan. The effort will involve everything from state-of-the-art technology to improve the security screening process to expanding the airport's cargo handling capabilities in an era of online shopping and overnight deliveries.
The planning is being directed by CHA, formerly Clough, Harbour & Associates, a global engineering firm whose headquarters are just three miles from the airport terminal. CHA is working with two other firms, Jacobsen Daniels and Gensler, on the update, which is expected to take two years.
The security checkpoint will be expanded to permit social distancing and reduce bottlenecks. Airport CEO Phil Calderone envisions expanding the existing pedestrian bridge that connects the terminal and parking garage to provide the needed checkpoint space.
"A revolutionary long-term process change could be the dispersion of screening systems to elongated vestibules at airport entrances," according to Tuesday's presentation.
Meanwhile, passengers would check in their own baggage, tagging it and dropping it on a conveyor, eliminating a touch point. And they'd get an appointed time to pass through the security checkpoints, reducing or eliminating lines.
Several alternatives for expanding "lounge space," basically the gate holding areas, would permit seating arrangements to maintain social distancing between passengers. Biometric screening and decentralizing passenger check-in and screening are eyed as short-term approaches to maintaining health and wellness protocols. Albany already offers voluntary screening for Covid-19, providing saliva tests in the terminal.
The airport has been working with GE Research in Niskayuna, introducing an app that tells passengers through a QR code how recently a given surface was cleaned.
Runways appear adequate to handle projected growth through 2030, according to several members of the technical advisory committee. The number of boardings is expected to grow only to 1,659,801 in 2030, up from 1,492,305 in 2019. Aircraft operations — takeoffs and landings — are expected to total 76,899 in 2030, up from 73,935 in 2019. (We omitted 2020 figures, which showed sharp drops because of the pandemic).
The projections could change. Under consideration is expansion of aircraft maintenance facilities at the airport, where United Express carrier CommutAir and American Eagle carrier Piedmont already operate maintenance bases. The expansion would generate increased operations, as would expansion of the air cargo business.
In the southeast quadrant of the airport, officials envision a base for corporate aircraft, as well as a potential airport business park.
Planners don't expect any radical changes in the coming decade.
"Slow but stable growth," said Paul McDonnell, project manager and lead planner on the CHA study team. "It's not going to double in activity in the next 10 years."
How much service the airport sees in coming years is largely up to the airlines.
"The airport provides the facilities and works with the airlines (which) provide the service," McDonnell said.
Follow the progress and provide your comments at www.ALB-Master-Plan.com
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