Business View Magazine | October 2020

175 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2020 so we could weather the storm. It just depends on how long it goes. We were very happy when the CARES Act came out. Because of the way the Airport is run, we got the maximum amount of money from that particular formula - $20.5 million for operating expenses and maintenance to get us through this pandemic. So, we’re extremely lucky in the way this Airport has been managed over the years.” Meanwhile, Esterly notes that the Airport didn’t put any of its current projects on hold. “We didn’t have to,” he states. “Having those reserves was instrumental. We continue to move on with different projects in the terminal building that we are going to be utilizing once this thing is over, including new food eatery venues. We now have nine venues for food and beverage, and news and gifts. We’ve also done some improvements to our air security checkpoint that are increasing the queue line space. That’s going to help us out with social distancing while the pandemic’s going on and, afterwards, VALLEY INTERNAT IONAL A I RPORT with additional queue space to get passengers through the checkpoint. The Pelican Bar and Grill continues on the north concourse – that will open up in October, and we’re doing upgrades to the FIS – the Federal Inspection Station. “Our runway extension project (an additional 1,100 to 8,300-ft. runway 17R/35L) is being designed, now. We’re going through some land acquisition in order to have the land that we need for the obstacle-free area and those areas at the end of the runway for the ILS equipment. That project continues along and we’re hoping to start construction within a year. We’re really excited about it and so are our air cargo carriers. We have FedEx that flies wide-body aircraft here – 767s; and DHL that flies wide-body aircraft also. They were in desperate need of that runway extension so that they can operate at capacity, where now, they can’t.” The Airport is also continuing to establish the Harlingen Aerotropolis - 480 acres of Marine Military Academy is a boarding school for boys in grades 7th - 12th NOW ENROLLING FOR 2020-2021 THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS STARTS NOW VISIT MMA-TX.ORG AND FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP UNLOCK YOUR SON’S POTENTIAL MARINE MILITARY ACADEMY QUARTER PAGE SA1.indd 1 10/19/2020 3:48:50 PM