Will Rogers World Airport announces maintenance hangar expansion
The brand new 80,000 sq. ft. expansion will be for maintaining aircrafts, specifically those with Alaska Airlines.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics and other officials announced on Friday a maintenance hangar expansion coming to Will Rogers World Airport.
They said it’s expected to bring more jobs and money to the states economy.
The brand new 80,000 sq. ft. expansion will be for maintaining aircrafts, specifically those with Alaska Airlines. The groundbreaking was for eventual takeoff toward the future with officials saying that the expanded hangar will solidify Oklahoma’s presence in the industry of airplane maintenance, repair and overhaul.
"We don't build new airplanes. We keep them flying. And that's our legacy. We're very proud of it,” Executive Director of the Oklahoma Dept. of Aerospace and Aeronautics Grayson Ardies said.
Alaska Airlines will get three new lines of maintenance inside the facility. They’ve agreed to send 160 airplanes here to be refurbished according to State Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City. AAR will be the company providing that maintenance. It’s a $37.5 million expansion of their seven-bay facility that currently sits just north of the airport.
"The industry needs more capacity to maintain airplanes because the airlines are growing, they're adding new airplanes,” Director of Airports at Will Rogers World Airport Jeff Mulder said.
Funding for the project comes from a grant secured by state lawmakers with the balance to also be funded by rent concessions from the airport. Sen. Rosino added that $20 million in economic development money was also used. It’s expected to bring about 200 jobs to the state along with revenue to the area. Mulder said it also keeps Oklahoma connected to the northwest part of the country.
"That helps facilitate the flight we have from Oklahoma City to Seattle on the Alaska Airlines,” Mulder said. "So the fact that they maintain aircraft here helps solidify that route."
The facility is expected to be operational by 2026.