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SALT LAKE CITY — Provo Airport's new terminal will turn 2 this year, but those who oversee its operations say it's already in need of an expansion to meet a demand even they didn't see coming.
That's why they're asking the state for $5.5 million to help them complete an $80 million project that would nearly double the number of gates that exist today. The measure could also open the door for new airlines and international services at the airport as it grows.
"This has been a phenomenal success story," Provo Deputy Mayor Issac Paxman told members of the Utah Legislature's Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday. "The passengers have spoken, the residents have spoken, the airlines have spoken — they want this."
Provo Airport's new terminal opened in the spring of 2022, offering four gates. Paxman said it was originally estimated that the airport would reach its 1 million passenger mark by the mid-2030s, but the facility reached that mark in December with Breeze and Allegiant airline operations there which offer an alternative to the busy Salt Lake City International Airport.
Brian Torgersen, director of the Provo Airport, clarified that the figure is a count of people flying out of the airport, and the total number of passengers is about double that.
"We're looking at likely hitting that number again this year with close to 1 million people passing through the building," he said.
The two airlines have brought in an estimated economic impact of about $130 million annually, including over $90 million in visitor spending, according to the city. It states that the airport and the airlines support a little more than 1,000 jobs and provide $2.2 million in annual tax impact.
However, there are already logistical challenges that impede future growth, including the city's aspirations of adding international operations.
The problem is that there are seven commercial aircraft based at an airport designed for only four. Torgersen explained that they've had to "cram things onto the apron" of the facility to operate all of the flights in and out of the airport.
While an expansion of the airport's apron is already underway, the city is seeking state funds to help it add three new gates. He said two of the gates would be "international compatible" to accommodate requests from airlines to add some service with other countries.
The $5.5 million requested during this legislative session would join $3 million that would already come from the state to help pay for the expansion, according to the city. Another $34 million from a Federal Aviation Administration program, $16.5 million from the Mountainland Association of Governments, $11 million from Provo's sales tax and airport revenue and $10 million from Utah County would cover the rest of the cost.
The expansion could also help the airport bring in a "major network carrier," which isn't possible with the current capacity, Torgersen added. The city's presentation listed Southwest, United, SkyWest, American and Alaska airlines as potential suitors for new daily service.
Three new gates could just be the beginning, too. Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, who requested the funds from the subcommittee on behalf of Provo, said there's a goal to add three more gates sometime in the future.
But for now, he supports what the city is asking for.
"With the demand that they're seeing with the amount of passengers they've had, we think that this is a very feasible and needed addition here in our state," he said.
The Utah Legislature has until March 1 to approve all appropriation requests as it finalizes the state's 2025 fiscal year budget.
