Growth and Expansion
There is currently a plan in place for future expansion of the airport as it continues to grow in passenger volume. Big components of the master plan include adding a third runway and expanding Concourse C with more gates. There have been, at times, non-stop flights to southern California since the 1970s. However, these are among the first to be suspended during economic downturns, high fuel prices, and airline restructuring.
A new control tower has been built south of the airport, replacing the old one located near Concourse C. Currently, the new control tower is the tallest control tower in the State of Washington. Another project, recently completed, was the Terminal, Rotunda, and Concourse C Enhancement Project (TRACE) and was designed by Bernardo/Wills Architects, P.C. The project, which concluded in November 2006, added retail space and expanded the security checkpoints in the airport's three concourses, and gave the Rotunda an aesthetic renovation. In 2010, 2000 feet was added to Runway 3–21, and parallel taxiways 'A' and 'G' enabling heavier aircraft departures in summer months.
With the rapid growth of the Spokane area, the airport plans to add another concourse in the next 5–10 years. Spokane International Airport (SIA) looks to add more direct flights to the east coast as the Spokane market in recent years has been hosting big events and attracting business to the area.
Read more about this topic: Spokane International Airport
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