Link at the Bismarck Tribune.
The Minot International Airport will be three times the size of the current building.
The expansion is needed due to increased travel activity in the region due primarily to the oil boom. The airport that typically had about 70,000 passengers per year is expected to go over 220,000 passengers this year. Preliminary designs show that the terminal would increase from 34,000 square feet to about 115,000 square feet.
The expansion project is expected to cost about $85 million, including $40 million for the terminal.By the way, on a related note. Someone reported recently that a few years ago, total boardings at the Williston International Airport was 6,000 passengers per YEAR; Williston is now loading 6,000 passengers per MONTH at the airport.
Speaking of airports, here's a view of the "dirt that is being moved" for the new Bowman, North Dakota, about three miles east of Bowman:
The little bit of rolling will make for a sportier landing. Bronco-busters returning to Bowman will feel right at home.
Photo taken by Don.
What I would be a little cautious about, is the fact that this huge increase in passenger boardings have occurred in the past couple years. With the OIL boom going on in western, ND, my guess would be a majority of thses increases are from people driving to and from the western part of the state to Minot to hop on a plane. Now with Williston getting both Delta and United jet service (United started today). Will the numbers start going down in Minot? If United and Delta have success in Williston, they will increase the number of flights out of Williston, so people will not need to drive to Minot to hop on a jet? My prediction is Williston will eventually overtake Minot once Williston gets their new airport in place that can handle the larger jets.
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ReplyDeleteWilliston could overtake Minot with a new airport, but it would take a while.
Minot will likely get Allegiant Service to Orlando and maybe Los Angeles. Minot could also be in the running for Houston service by United and Chicago by American. Fargo just got Dallas service via American, so the idea of Houston/Minot isn't that far fetched with Houston's oil industry.