Editorial: Downtown heliport is an asset that may prove worth keeping
Experts in the field say the downtown heliport is just the kind of property other cities will be trying to create as advanced aviation technology matures.
Experts in the field say the downtown heliport is just the kind of property other cities will be trying to create as advanced aviation technology matures.
The three-dimensional mural, called “Transitions,” was commissioned by the Indianapolis Airport Authority with help from the Indianapolis Arts Council and is designed to mask an ongoing $190 million runway construction project.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority and the city of Indianapolis on Wednesday confirmed the heliport could be decommissioned later this year by the Federal Aviation Administration, paving the way for redevelopment.
Airport leaders are in the early stages of charting the facility’s next 30-plus years, a future that might eventually usher in additional real estate developments, a third runway, more gates and unmanned aircraft operations.
Indianapolis International Airport is undergoing its most ambitious project since the completion of the new Midfield Terminal in 2008—a $190 million rebuild of one of its two main runways.
The decision to buy the privately owned property came after seeing the swiftness with which developers have moved to acquire thousands of acres near the Indianapolis Regional Airport for their own projects.
Host Angela B. Freeman talks with Harrington about her efforts to promote equity in the airport’s operations and among its vendors. And they discuss the importance of developing a culture in which employees can bring their authentic selves to work.
Airlines are struggling with shortages of workers, especially pilots, that are hurting their ability to operate all their planned flights.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority has committed at least $5 million over the next two years to try to attract new domestic and international non-stop flights, with an emphasis on the latter.
If the route becomes official, it would be the first trans-Atlantic flight from the Indianapolis since Delta Air Lines discontinued its Paris flight in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Indianapolis Airport Authority Executive Director Mario Rodriguez said the Key West flight marks No. 21 in a lineup of nonstop flights announced by the airport so far in 2021.
The airport has added nearly 20 nonstop routes since the start of the year, a number that’s still shy of pre-pandemic levels but is a sign of recovery, at least in leisure travel.
The Indianapolis Airport Authority on June 18 agreed to work with city officials to find a new use for the 4.9-acre property at 51 S. New Jersey St.
From the moment fans land in Indianapolis, there’s no denying the tournament’s excitement—with prominent March Madness signage placed throughout the terminal, pop-up retail shops with apparel and memorabilia, local artwork and live musicians. It’s genuinely a pre-game to the experience in downtown Indy and throughout the host sites.
Local aviation company Aero Management Group has acquired the leasehold rights to Indianapolis Regional Airport in Greenfield and is planning numerous capital improvements and the addition of charter service.
Even amid dramatically reduced foot traffic, the facility’s work to refresh its slate of restaurants and shops is progressing—albeit more slowly than initially expected.
Passenger traffic at the airport is expected to be 45% lower in 2020 than last year, but airport leaders say they are confident they can keep the organization’s finances stable.
Mario Rodriguez, executive director of the Indianapolis Airport Authority, said activity has dropped to as low as 5% of typical operations, with the the facility serving only 14 of its 53 destinations.
The suit, filed Tuesday in Marion Superior Court by Evansville-based Old National Bank, claims Paul Kite and his firm owe the bank $15.8 million.
Business is booming at Greenfield manufacturer ATMI Indy LLC, which is acquiring the property to accommodate the company’s growth.