Grand Junction Regional Airport (IATA: GJT, ICAO: KGJT, FAA LID: GJT) is a public-use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) northeast of the central business district of Grand Junction, a city in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest airport in western Colorado and third largest in the state.
The airport opened in 1930 as Grand Junction Municipal Airport. In 1942 it was renamed Walker Field for Walter Walker, a former publisher of The Daily Sentinel newspaper who helped obtain funds and business support for the airport. The airport and the airport authority were both renamed on May 15, 2007. Grand Junction Regional Airport is undergoing a $20 million renovation, of which $700,000 is designated to pay for signs containing the new name. The airport's terminal and fire building will continue to be named for Walker and a new $19 million roadway under construction will be called Walter Walker Blvd. In June 2010, a new Subway Cafe opened and serves passengers on both sides of the security checkpoint,and will serve sandwiches as well as coffee and alcoholic drinks. A new runway will be built 200 feet north of the existing one, with a target year of 2019.The original 10,501-foot runway will be turned into a taxi way. Outside the security checkpoint there is a play area for kids. Inside the terminal, there is a gift shop and TV monitors in the waiting area for passengers. The current terminal has two gates equipped with jet bridges designed for regional jets while other gates utilize outdoor airstairs.
Read more about Grand Junction Regional Airport: Facilities and Aircraft, Airlines and Destinations - Present & Past
Famous quotes containing the words grand, junction and/or airport:
“No grand idea was ever born in a conference, but a lot of foolish ideas have died there.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
“In order to get to East Russet you take the Vermont Central as far as Twitchell’s Falls and change there for Torpid River Junction, where a spur line takes you right into Gormley. At Gormley you are met by a buckboard which takes you back to Torpid River Junction again.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“It was like taking a beloved person to the airport and returning to an empty house. I miss the people. I miss the world.”
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)