Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport is classified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a primary, small hub airport (U.S. Department of Transportation, 2014). Blue Grass serves over one million passengers each year and occupies approximately 1,000 acres. The airport offers commercial flights to destinations worldwide and also provides a variety of corporate and general aviation services including U.S. Customs cargo inspection, flight instruction, charter aircraft, airplane maintenance, aircraft storage and more (Airport History, n.d.). It is also home to the Aviation Museum of Kentucky. The Blue Grass Airport provides aviation facilities for commercial air passenger, cargo, private, and military users of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan
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After a lengthy period of negotiations, the federal government eventually approved funding to support a runway extension, along with a modern control tower and additions to the airport’s terminal space. When the runway was extended in 1958, four engine passenger aircraft began regular service to Lexington. During this same time, jet-powered aircraft use became prevalent prompting city officials to begin lobbying airline companies to begin service at Blue Grass Field. A federal grant to extend the runway yet again to handle jet traffic occurred in 1965 and jet landings and take-offs were successfully tested; however, airline companies declined to bring jet service to Lexington because of concern over the lack of advanced safety and emergency equipment. Jet service eventually began in 1968 with additional safety equipment and infrastructure improvements following in the early 1970’s. A new terminal building was completed in 1976. The 1980’s began an era of growth for Blue Grass Field and it was renamed Blue Grass Airport in 1984. In the late 1980’s the gate areas and concourses were expanded. New shops opened for business and an additional restaurant was added. State-of-the-art security was installed in 2002, another concourse addition was constructed, and several new concessions …show more content…
Airline partners have changed over the years; with the first commercial service providers being Delta Air Lines and Eastern Airlines. Today, Blue Grass is home to Delta, U.S. Airways, American, United, and Allegiant Air providing service to some of the nation’s busiest major hub airports; Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, New York, and Chicago-O’Hare (Blue Grass Airport, n.d.).
Management Staff and Organization Blue Grass Airport is owned and operated by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board, a 10-member board of directors appointed by the mayor of Lexington and confirmed by the Urban County Council. The Airport Board meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of every month (Administration, n.d.). The management staff is organized by job specialization: Executive Director, Director, Administration and Finance, Director, Engineering and Maintenance, Director, Marketing and Community Relations, Director, Public Safety and Operations, Manager, Maintenance and Airport Services, Manager, Human Resources, Manager, Information Technology, and Manager, Operations (Administration, n.d.).
Budget and Financial Status The Blue Grass Airport financial statements, as provided to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board, and audited by the firm of Crowe Horwath are detailed
After a lengthy period of negotiations, the federal government eventually approved funding to support a runway extension, along with a modern control tower and additions to the airport’s terminal space. When the runway was extended in 1958, four engine passenger aircraft began regular service to Lexington. During this same time, jet-powered aircraft use became prevalent prompting city officials to begin lobbying airline companies to begin service at Blue Grass Field. A federal grant to extend the runway yet again to handle jet traffic occurred in 1965 and jet landings and take-offs were successfully tested; however, airline companies declined to bring jet service to Lexington because of concern over the lack of advanced safety and emergency equipment. Jet service eventually began in 1968 with additional safety equipment and infrastructure improvements following in the early 1970’s. A new terminal building was completed in 1976. The 1980’s began an era of growth for Blue Grass Field and it was renamed Blue Grass Airport in 1984. In the late 1980’s the gate areas and concourses were expanded. New shops opened for business and an additional restaurant was added. State-of-the-art security was installed in 2002, another concourse addition was constructed, and several new concessions …show more content…
Airline partners have changed over the years; with the first commercial service providers being Delta Air Lines and Eastern Airlines. Today, Blue Grass is home to Delta, U.S. Airways, American, United, and Allegiant Air providing service to some of the nation’s busiest major hub airports; Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, New York, and Chicago-O’Hare (Blue Grass Airport, n.d.).
Management Staff and Organization Blue Grass Airport is owned and operated by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board, a 10-member board of directors appointed by the mayor of Lexington and confirmed by the Urban County Council. The Airport Board meets monthly on the fourth Wednesday of every month (Administration, n.d.). The management staff is organized by job specialization: Executive Director, Director, Administration and Finance, Director, Engineering and Maintenance, Director, Marketing and Community Relations, Director, Public Safety and Operations, Manager, Maintenance and Airport Services, Manager, Human Resources, Manager, Information Technology, and Manager, Operations (Administration, n.d.).
Budget and Financial Status The Blue Grass Airport financial statements, as provided to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board, and audited by the firm of Crowe Horwath are detailed