GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Appleton International Airport is now the third-busiest airport in the state, behind Milwaukee and Madison.
The airport is on track to see more than 850,000 passengers this year.
“We’re on pace to have our busiest year ever,” said Abe Weber, Appleton airport director. “Consumers and business travelers are realizing that it’s faster and easier to fly out of Appleton no matter their destination.”
With the growth of travelers, the airport announces it has been reclassified to the status of a small-hub airport. The classification recognizes the growth in passengers and flights and places the Appleton Airport into a separate funding category. To meet classification as a small hub, an airport must carry .05-.25% of commercial flights nationwide.
“This classification elevates our status with major airlines and elevates our ability to acquire grant funding for future projects,” Weber said. “Our focus at Appleton airport will remain at providing the fastest, easiest, and most convenient travel experience of all of for Northeast Wisconsin.”
Outagamie County Executive, Tom Nelson, says the classification reflects the economic growth of the airport and the community.
“We have well over doubled the economic impact of this airport and now we support minimum 3,000 jobs directly and indirectly in Outagamie County and the region,” said Nelson.
“Flights are probably a little cheaper out of Milwaukee and Chicago, but that extra hour and a half drive, especially on the way back, makes people want to leave out of Appleton,” said Geoff Hendren, owner of Bon Voyage Boutique Travel in Neenah.
Hendren says his agency has seen an increase in flight bookings through Appleton’s airport.
“Getting through security is a lot easier, and coming back is a lot easier. So it’s just the convenience, people want that convenience,” said Hendren.
To accommodate that growth, the airport has invested $40 million of improvements.
About 84% of improvement projects started this year were funded by federal grants, 7% were funded by state grants, and 9% of the projects were funded by Appleton Airport.
These include an expansion of the concrete ramp used for planes landing and taxing and construction of a general aviation hangar at the Appleton Flight Center, a facility used by private aircraft.
“We commenced construction of a major expansion to our commercial terminal apron to accommodate our current growth as well as be able to grow and develop more air service,” said Weber.
“We are thankful for the work our congressional and state representatives put in to help us fund the rapidly growing air traffic here at the Appleton Airport,” said Outagamie County Executive Thomas Nelson. “Expanding our capabilities to service more flights will create faster and easier air travel for regional residents and better respond to the growing demand for travel out of Appleton.”
Milwaukee’s General Mitchell ranks number one this year with 4.1 million passengers. Dane County Regional in Madison comes in second with 1.3 million. Green Bay’s Austin Straubel ranks fourth after ATW, with 650,000 passengers.
“That means we have two great airports in Northeast Wisconsin that are able to serve our passengers,” said Marty Piette.
Piette, Austin Straubel’s airport director, says there’s no competition necessary when it comes to success.
“It’s two markets that are served by two different airports in a sense,” said Piette. “It’s a good sign of the economy, so as far as Northeast Wisconsin’s concern and access to and from Wisconsin, it’s great to see.”
In addition, Gulfstream has started work on a paint hangar in partnership with the airport. The 73,000 square foot square foot project is expected to be completed in 2023.
Allegiant Air has also added a third plane to air service in October. The Airbus 320 seats up to 186 passengers and is one of the largest planes to service Appleton. For passengers, the plane features wider aisles, wider seats, and more overhead storage, but the impact is beyond travel. The airline will be increasing staffing for pilots, flight attendants, and support staff through 2023 to serve increased passengers.
Additionally, the airport has added equipment and services to make it easier for travelers to fly in and out of Appleton including two boarding gates, express parking area and a parking system with ticket-less options.
