Punta Gorda Airport begins terminal expansion

Author: dave culbreth
Published: Updated:

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.- Heavy equipment has arrived and dirt is moving on Punta Gorda’s expanding airport terminal. Growth at the airport is really taking off and soon fliers will see major changes.

By the end of the year, over 600,000 people will have flown in or out of the airport.

“The past few years we’ve been identified as the fourth fastest growing airport in the country,” said Gary Quill, the Executive Director of the Charlotte County Airport Authority.

He’s now overseeing an expansion of the new terminal.

“If you’ve seen inside the terminal it’s very crowded at flight times so it’s basically going to handle what Allegiant has now and room for growth.

“It’s scheduled to cost $9 million. Quill says 90 percent of that comes from airport fees that get added onto your flight. The additional money comes from the state and from passengers who park in the lots or get rental cars.

Quill says the airport will also get some more food options. “We will have a better layout for food service than we have in our current building, be more functional.

“One of the biggest problems with the current terminal is the lack seats inside the building. Quill says after the new terminal is completed, there will be 800 more seats.

“Our terminal right now is 16,000 square feet,” Quil added. “We’re adding on so that the finished building will be right around 50,000 square feet to accommodate the growth that we’ve had here.”

Last week Quill became Charlotte County’s highest paid public official at $205,000 a year.

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