Old North News

As the Asheville area continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas in North Carolina, the Asheville Regional Airport will receive a major overhaul in the near future thanks to a $21.5 million federal grant to be awarded over a multiyear period.

The money will come from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration under the Bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act.

“This grant will go a long way in helping @flyavlnow expand its terminal for a smoother and more efficient experience,” U.S. Sen. Them Tillis (R-N.C.) said on Twitter in announcing the funding. “I was proud have helped negotiate and pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill to secure this infrastructure victory for North Carolina.” 

This latest check will be for $4.3 million and will go toward expanding and improving the existing terminal. 

Tina Kinsey, vice president of marketing and public relations for the airport, told WLOS this is the second of several multimillion-dollar grant installments the airport will receive over a five-year span. The entire grant amount is worth approximately $21.5 million. 

“It’s great news for this airport, for this region,” Kinsey said. “It’ll be the biggest project we have ever seen at this airport. The entire airport will be new when we are completed, and it will be more than twice the size.” 

Construction is under way on a central energy plant to serve the terminal, but the official groundbreaking is scheduled for next spring. 

Kinsey said the terminal project will be rolled out in phases, with simultaneous demolition and construction. All of this is necessary to keep up with demand, which has been growing in conjunction with the size of the city and its surrounding area.

“The growth has been off the charts for Asheville Regional Airport,” Kinsey said.

While Asheville’s airport has been growing, other regional airports have been scaling back the number of flights. The Regional Airline Association says 76% of U.S. airports have diminished or lost air service in 2022.

“We are not seeing cuts,” Kinsey said. “In fact, we are seeing quite the opposite in Asheville. We have a robust flight schedule, our airlines are doing well here, we continue to be busy and anticipate that’s going to continue.” 

Kinsey said this new project accounts for long-term growth projections, adding that the airport is on track for another record-breaking travel year.

“The design is such that we can build onto the terminal much more easily,” she said.

The project is estimated to take between four and five years, and will be helped by future grants that are part of the overall package.