WLNS - New Funding Would Help Future of Local Airport

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WLNS - New Funding Would Help Future of Local Airport

Lansing's Capital City Airport will be getting a big boost from Washington, but the exact amount is still up for grabs. The senate wants to give five million, the house $500,000. That amount will be figured out in the next two weeks.

600,000 travelers a year use Lansing's Capital City Airport. Most of them connect at larger hubs in Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago, but Capital City has a larger vision.

Bob Selig, Exec. Director: "Expand the service offerings we offer to the region to include international services."

And the new transportation funding bill passed this week in Washington may allow them to do just that. The senate has approved five million dollars in funding so the airport can extend its runway to 8,500 feet. That expansion will allow the airport to begin making international flights. It will also allow Capital City to expand its shipping business.

Bob Selig: "We have ups history right now, we've had interest by Allegiant Air to fly flights to Mexico."

More funding also means more regional flights.

Bob Selig: "As you expand your business and industry, you're going to expand your passenger demand."

Rep. Mike Rogers, (R) Brighton: "It will help employment if we can extend that airport."

Congressman Mike Rogers pushed for the funding in the house's version of the bill.

Rep. Mike Rogers: "The more capability that runway has, the more opportunities we have to have new business here."

Around twenty flights take off from Capital City daily, but if the new funding comes through, airport officials hope that number will take off to 35 or 40.

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