connection point for businesses and institutions across Fort Worth’s expanding landscape.The airport’s position enables it to serve as a crucial gateway for both domestic and international travelers seeking direct access to the city’s flourishing districts. “A number of corporations choose to call Meacham home, primarily due to our strategic location relative to downtown,” Venables explains. The airport offers convenient access to Fort Worth’s major attractions, including the historic Stockyards, which maintains its distinctive cowboy culture while experiencing a modern renaissance.The cultural district, near South Medical District, and the new Texas A&M Fort Worth research and innovation hub further enhance the airport’s significance. The addition of on-site U.S. Customs has significantly boosted international traffic at Meacham. “In 2019, the year we introduced on-site customs, we handled around 59 flights. This year, we’re nearing 500 cleared flights,” Venables shares. The facility accommodates aircraft from North America, South America, and Europe, providing an alternative to larger commercial airports. “Operators can avoid the air traffic congestion at commercial airports. They can easily come and go from Meacham, and we have the necessary airfield facilities to support them,” Venables explains. Meacham’s physical footprint encompasses over 900 acres, with recent projects unlocking new potential. The removal of an underutilized cross runway in 2016-2017 resulted in a 35-acre midfield development area. “We now have four large new hangars built by outside developers, with more projects in the planning phase,” Venables shares. There are also expansion opportunities on the airport’s west side, where 12 acres lie between the main and secondary runways. The airport’s future development is guided by a comprehensive master plan, adopted by the city council last year.“The last master planning effort was done in 2004,”Venables explains.“It’s a very thorough facilities plan showing how we think development could occur on the airport and the landside and airside improvements necessary to meet future needs, opening up those areas for opportunities.”This 130 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 01
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