Airport lands economic development

Things are flying high at the Will Rogers World Airport. On Wednesday, Frontier Airlines begins serving Oklahoma City with nonstop flights to Denver and Orlando, Florida. Nonstop to San Diego begins April 9. The airline joins six other carriers, providing even more choices for travelers and bringing more people to Oklahoma City.

Will Rogers airport has been preparing for the continual rise in air travel – with demand expected to double by 2035. The airport is planning an $89 million expansion project that will add four new airline gates, a consolidated security checkpoint with more capacity and processing efficiency, meeter/greeter lounges, plans for international screening and increased public circulation. Construction is expected to begin in late spring.

Beyond being a hub for arriving and departing planes, airports like Will Rogers are being recognized as economic drivers. The increase in air travel will require a greater demand for aviation employees and services, including maintenance technicians. Currently, there are nearly 35,000 employees that work for maintenance, repair operations firms in the Oklahoma City area alone. The largest MRO in the metro is the Tinker Air Force Base complex. The second-largest concentration of maintenance, repair and overhaul activity is centered around major commercial air carriers and government aviation activity at Will Rogers World Airport.

Read the full article at The Journal Record