Terminal Expansion Opens at Golden Triangle Regional Airport

Courtesy of Golden Triangle Regional Airport

Sen. Roger Wicker and Rep. Trent Kelly (5th and 6th from left) joined GTR staff and board members to celebrate the completion of the $12 million project.

Golden Triangle Regional Airport has completed its $12 million terminal expansion and jet bridge. On hand to do the ribbon-cutting honors were Senator Roger Wicker and Congressman Trent Kelly.

The expansion has added approximately 8,200 square feet to the upper level of the terminal. The boarding process has been modernized by the addition of a jet bridge, as well as two new escalators and an elevator.

“The expansion prepares our airport to handle larger modern aircraft and mainline regional jets,” says GTRA Executive Director Matt Dowell.

Of the $12 million project cost, $11.3 million was a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program which was funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The balance of the costs was augmented by a Mississippi Department of Transportation grant and local passenger facility funding.

“To have state-of-the-art here in Columbus is just exceptional,” said Kelly at the opening. “We will continue to grow our workforce and everything in the Golden Triangle because of these upgrades to the airport. The key here is the connection to both Dallas and Atlanta, two of the largest airports in the world.”

Golden Triangle Regional Airport’s new jetway and expanded terminal

Wicker concurred, “Think of the jobs this is going to help us create. It’s going to make it easier to come here and to get on and off the plane in the style in which corporate executives are accustomed. This is jobs for Mississippi. No question about it. We’re at the dawn of a huge opportunity for job creation for the Golden Triangle and for Mississippi.”

Helping GTRA bring the vision to fruition were JBHM Architecture, Neel-Schaffer Inc. and West Brothers Construction.

The growth of the airport reflects the overall economic burgeoning of the Golden Triangle, which has seen roughly $12 billion in capital investment representing 28 new companies recruited to the area and more than 10,000 jobs created since 2003.