Akron-Canton Airport Celebrates 60th Anniversary and Dedicates New Gate Concourse

GREEN, Ohio, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- In October 1946, Summit and Stark County leaders gathered to dedicate and celebrate the birth of an airfield, the Akron-Canton Airport. The airport was conceived and designed to act as a distribution center for new fighters and bombers in support of the war effort. Today, the Akron-Canton Airport means much more to the region than simply marshaling war planes. It is a powerful economic generator that connects passengers from our region to the world, employs more than 1,400 people in aviation related fields, makes Northeast Ohio a more strategic location for business development and enhances the region's quality-of-life. Ohio Governor Bob Taft and Congressman Ralph Regula will be among the dignitaries celebrating with airport supporters today.

"It is a privilege to honor our past and celebrate our future with Governor Bob Taft, Congressman Ralph Regula, many other community leaders and elected officials, economic development leaders and our own staff past and present," said airport director Fred Krum. "It is fitting to dedicate the centerpiece of our STAR capital improvement program, the gate concourse, against this historical backdrop; so we can honor the legends and leaders who worked so hard in the early years and throughout our history to keep this airfield strong and well positioned to serve the community for decades to come."

"Ohio has a proud heritage of excellence in aviation, and I am pleased that the Akron-Canton Airport has been continuing that tradition as one of the fastest-growing airports in the country," said Governor Bob Taft. "The Akron- Canton Airport has been fueling economic development in this region for more than 60 years, and we are pleased that the state could help make this new expansion possible."

"The Akron-Canton Airport has served our community in Northeast Ohio well over the years and is an increasingly valuable asset to the region. Good service has led to remarkable passenger growth over the last decade and the airport is expanding into a world-class facility to meet the needs of travelers and make our area a more attractive place to do business. I am pleased to recognize this milestone in the airport's history and look forward to continue working to support its promising future," Congressman Regula stated.

The celebration called "Honoring the Past; Dedicated to the Future" will include a luncheon and celebration in the new soaring glass atrium. To dedicate the new gate concourse, new banners will be unfurled and a ribbon- cutting ceremony will immediately follow.

The new gate concourse was built in response to record growth at the airport. CAK passenger traffic has tripled in the last decade, requiring new space to accommodate the additional traffic. It includes two new gates in the north commuter concourse, where United Express is currently operating its Chicago service. Northwest Airlink will begin operating from the north concourse upon completion of the de-icing pads on the ramp. AirTran Airways and Frontier Airlines operate from the spacious second-level south gate concourse. Arby's and Great Lakes Brewing Company are now open in this concourse to serve passengers. Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, and US Airways will continue to operate from the existing gates until the next phase of construction is complete. Spacious gates, natural light, terrazzo flooring, large restrooms and enhanced concessions are hallmarks of the new space. Funding for the new $29 million gate concourse was secured from the federal Airport Improvement Program, passenger facility charges, the Ohio State Infrastructure Bank and airport operating revenue. The new terminal can accommodate more than 1.6 million passengers annually.

The completion of the new gate concourse marks the conclusion of the STAR (soaring with terminal, access and runway improvements) capital improvement program announced in 2001. STAR was launched to add and improve terminal space, ensure adequate runway capacity for decades to come, and protect and enhance access to the passenger terminal and airfield. Since the inception of STAR, the airport has invested more than $60 million in the enhancements.

    Completed Star Improvements
    Project                       (in millions)
    Runway 1/19                    $17
    Entrance improvement           $1
    New gate concourse             $29
    Baggage claim wing             $7
    Security enhancements          $2
    Parking and other projects     $3
    Shuffel Road Interchange       $1
    Total                          $60 million

Additional information including flight reservations, driving instructions, and a relaxation station is available at www.akroncantonairport.com, CAK's new web portal. Akron-Canton Airport, a better way to go(R).