USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 25, No. 1
January 1, 2025
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 10 Pages
Section A, Page 1
MAKING WAY FOR EXPANSION PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RECEIVES $4 MILLION FAA GRANT By Morgan Cole
A
s the largest airport between Jacksonville and New Orleans, the Pensacola International Airport (PNS) serves as a key gateway for travelers throughout the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. With an average of more than 58,000 passengers and over 37,000 commercial aircraft arrivals and departures per week, PNS served a record-breaking number of over 3 million passengers in fiscal year 2024. Over the last 10 years, PNS has seen 104 percent growth of travelers and flights combined—a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. This rapid growth reflects both the increasing demand for air travel across our region and the airport’s ability to meet evolving passenger demands. “The continued and rapid growth of our airport really speaks to the vibrancy of this wonderful community,” PNS Airport Director Matt Coughlin said. “Our team is poised to meet the challenges of this growth while affording the full spectrum of travel options for our valued travelers.”
As it prepares for future expansion, including upcoming terminal improvements, a new concourse and state-of-the-art parking updates, PNS remains dedicated to enhancing the traveler experience and helping drive economic growth across the region. In October, PNS was awarded a $4 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Airport Terminals Program (ATP). The FAA’s valuable investment in America’s transportation network will help modernize infrastructure, increase equity in transportation, help fight climate change, strengthen the supply chain and create jobs.
“Our team is poised to meet the challenges of this growth while affording the full spectrum of travel options for our valued travelers.”
Through the BIL, a total of $5 billion has been allocated ($1 billion annually from 2022 to 2026) to provide competitive grants for terminal development projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation’s airports. This grant marks the first time PNS has been awarded funds through this funding initiative, which aims to modernize airport terminals nationwide. The program’s primary goals include making airports safer, more sustainable and more accessible. The grant funds will play a pivotal role in the airport’s ongoing Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program, an effort to meet the increasing demands of the region’s growing air travel market and improve the overall passenger experience. “The Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program is a major part of our long-term vision for Pensacola International Airport, and the additional support from the FAA will allow us to move forward with many critical improvements that benefit both our travelers and the community,” Coughlin explained.
The FAA’s ATP is in its fourth year of a five-year program, awarding a total of $970 million to 128 projects across 125 airports. These investments not only enhance airport infrastructure but also contribute to the creation of highpaying jobs in communities across the country, including Pensacola. “This grant is a significant milestone for Pensacola International Airport as we continue to meet the demands of our growing passenger base,” Coughlin said. The Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program is set to increase the capacity of PNS, offering a brand-new terminal with five gates, enhanced traveler amenities, improved accessibility, a reconfigured and expanded TSA checkpoint and more. The project will also help support the broader economic growth of the region by attracting more business and tourism to Pensacola. “We have worked tirelessly, alongside our federal leadership, to improve Pensacola International Airport. This shows us these efforts are paying off. Obviously, it is not the end of our work,
but just the beginning as we move one step closer to offering a worldclass center of travel for our residents and visitors to Pensacola and the surrounding area,” Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said. The Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program is part of PNS’s larger vision to transform the airport into a modern facility capable of serving the needs of travelers today and many years into the future. While plans for the airport’s expansion are currently in the design phase, the airport’s timeline for breaking ground on the expansion project is 2025. In November, PNS also opened a new long-term parking lot to serve its burgeoning passenger demand. The new lot is located on Tippin Avenue and is fully paved and lighted and offers 435 parking spaces, two bus shelters and 14 EV charging stations to accommodate guests with electric vehicles. Shuttle service is also provided. To learn more about PNS and the Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program, visit the website flypensacola.com.■
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