when we extended our main runway back in 2015 and finished that project. “There are about 100 acres in this area that we will develop into an air cargo logistics facility.” Vicari notes that phase one will accommodate up to eight wide-body aircraft at one time and will be completed by late Q4 of 2025. Phase two will be able to provide for an additional 10 aircraft positions, bringing the total number of aircraft to 18. LANDING COMMERCIAL SERVICES One priority that remains top of the aviation agenda for Gary/Chicago International is the reinstatement of a dedicated commercial service directly out of Gary to provide local residents an opportunity to fly out of their local airport. Vicari points out that they are close to meeting this goal, and any work they have carried out in recent years, coupled with the work that is currently underway, is reflective of this goal, facilitating an easy transition in resuming commercial operations. “We have kept our part 139 certification, and we are talking to air carriers about restarting service.” “We had a service with Allegiant up until 2013 when we were in the throes of our runway extension project,” Vicari recalls. “There was just too much construction going on at the time to have a favorable operation with Allegiant. So they left, and we are trying to get them back at this point. Vicari is also pushing the idea of a landline connection to O’Hare, but this is in the early stages of discussion for the time being. He also points out that although the airport is pursuing Allegiant, they are speaking to other airlines as well. What would be beneficial, he relays, is resuming flights connecting through O’Hare, where there are larger airline partners that could broaden the number of connecting flights passengers can make to other destinations. 6 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 08
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