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August 26, 2024
APPLETON – Appleton International Airport (ATW) Director Abe Weber said the latest terminal expansion project is on time and expected to be completed by next spring – just in time for the 2025 NFL Draft set in Green Bay April 24-26.
“It will more than double the airport’s size,” he said. “We’re trying to bring this project online as quickly as possible, just in time for next year’s NFL Draft. Thus far, construction is on schedule. We haven’t added any additional flights (for the draft) yet, but that will be coming more this fall and early next spring.”
Weber said the project is funded by a combination of state, federal and regional grants and budgeted dollars.
“We’ve put a lot of heart and soul into this project to make sure our words ring through,” he said. “It’s an exciting time for Appleton International Airport.”
According to TSA data, ATW is the fastest-growing airport in the State of Wisconsin.
“We are on pace to serve an anticipated 948,000 arrivals and departures by the end of this year,” Weber said. “This expansion will help us easily top the one-million mark.”
Amenities being added
According to Weber, all upgrades to the airport will support four main areas:
- Connecting communities in Northeast Wisconsin
- Inspiring innovation in air travel
- Environmental stewardship
- Delivering exceptional customer experiences.
“One thing you’ll notice right away is how much higher (in terms of elevation) the new terminal will be compared to our current concourse,” he said. “It’s eight feet higher, and that will allow ATW to accommodate much larger aircraft than are currently serving Appleton.”
Weber said the new space will also be much more open – with larger holding and gate rooms and “much more circulation space.”
“You’ve probably been to airports where people are crammed in the gate area – we don’t want that,” he said.
The roof of the terminal was constructed with large wood timbers, something Weber said was intentional for today and the future.
“Not only is wood aesthetically pleasing, but that wood and timber will help us reduce our carbon footprint,” he said. “Eventually, on that roof will be solar panels tied to a micro-grid so we can produce our own energy, store it and use it. It will lower our operating costs, and in turn, will lower our airline costs, which will make us more attractive.”
Weber said the new addition will have a lot of greenery, which falls in line with the airport’s overall design.
“The more greenery you have, it’s been shown to help reduce passenger anxiety,” he said.
Weber said additional amenities of the current expansion include:
- The gate area will be expanded, bringing the total number of gates to 10
- A Biergarten featuring Wisconsin craft beers is in the plans
- A connector between the existing gates and new gates, plus expanded areas for passenger boarding and various seating options
- Ramps will be used throughout to ensure easy access for all people, regardless of abilities
- An expanded restroom facilities, a sensory support room, a quiet room, a service animal relief area and a larger full-service restaurant and bar
- Grab-and-go food options for passengers who don’t have time to sit down for a meal
“We’re also expanding our partnership with Fork Farms (a Green Bay-based organization utilizing vertical farming technology), so we’ll have fresh-grown produce for use in the restaurant,” Weber said.
The expansion project, he said, wasn’t “just airport officials sitting down and deciding everything” – it included multiple stakeholders.
“We met with many community advocacy groups in the design phase,” he said. “We wanted their input to make sure we covered everything they thought was important.”
Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson said the new amenities of terminal expansion, “will have a positive impact on passengers.”
“The new amenities, it allows us to be all-inclusive,” he said.
Future construction phases, Weber said, will expand ticketing and baggage claim areas, refresh existing concourse areas in the airport and pay special attention to sustainability in future expansion plans.
Additional economic impact, jobs
Though the expansion will add amenities and set up ATW for future growth, Nelson said its impact expands beyond the airport walls.
“Currently, ATW has an economic activity of $700 million annually and supports about 3,200 jobs,” he said. “This is one of the projects that will bring us within striking distance of a $1 billion economic engine. Making this – where we are standing right now – the most important piece of real estate in Northeast Wisconsin.”
Nelson said Weber and his team have worked hard over the years to make the expansion project a reality.
“This expansion will clearly take us to the next level,” he said. “We are the third largest airport in Wisconsin (behind General Mitchell International Airport and Dane County Regional Airport), but there’s no reason why we can’t compete for the No. 2 spot.”
Because the expansion project is more than doubling the size of the airport, Weber said that means an increase in job opportunities.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if that current number rises to more than 5,000 jobs this airport creates,” he said.
Nelson said the project has been well received by the community thus far.
“One of our biggest priorities is the customer experience, so we get comments daily,” he said. “Our atmosphere is inviting (in our current terminal), from having a ping-pong table, a coffee kiosk and plenty of seating … it’s a great experience. During the busy season, we also have a golf cart driving around picking up people who might be parked further away from the terminal. Those sorts of things make a big difference. This is a great story. Our strong partnerships throughout Northeast Wisconsin have helped along the way.”
Flights offered
ATW is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines and is the only Wisconsin airport served by Allegiant Airlines.
These carriers offer non-stop service to 18 locations.
