COLUMBUS, Ohio – Travelers will see a fresh, new look the next time they fly out of Port Columbus International Airport.
The facelift of the airport’s Concourse A (above) is complete, with new floors, restrooms and dining options. It’s the first phase of a sweeping $80 million overhaul, which includes concourse, runway and ticket lobby improvements, at the airport, which opened in 1929.
“Modernizing our existing 1958 terminal building is a timely investment that helps create an airport conducive to growth. With the renovations, we’ll be able to efficiently handle over eight million passengers a year, levels we expect to reach in the late 2020s based on current trends,” Elaine Roberts, president and CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, said.
The new finishes including terrazzo flooring, new gate holdroom carpeting, wall treatments and ceiling tiles, and stainless steel column wraps. Enhanced lighting, reconfigured soffits and vending surrounds add to the contemporary appearance.
New and renovated restrooms contain many modern features for passenger convenience, such as shelves in larger stalls as well as child and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant considerations.
New systems and multiple technological enhancements, including telecommunications, tie into a newly built and independently powered data center equipped with environmental controls and round-the-clock monitoring capabilities.
Extensive ticket lobby renovations begin later this year with an anticipated completion date of mid-2015 when upgrades will continue in baggage claim, Roberts says.
Roberts says the terminal modernization Project will be funded from passenger facility charges.