MIDLAND, Texas — New plans for the Midland Air and Space Port are taking flight. The airport board met Wednesday morning to discuss what new additions are coming and how they will affect the future of Midland.
Plans span over the next couple of years and they are off to a great start in 2024.
"We had another great progress report in January and our numbers are up so we're I believe ten percent above where we were this same time last year," Director of Airports for Midland Justine Ruff said.
At the airport board meeting, Director Ruff hit on key changes that are in the works for the air and space port.
Some time this year, new information will emerge about the airport.
"Our space port is well known in the space port community and all over the world," Ruff said. "If you say you're from Midland Space Port they're like 'oh my gosh they're doing such great stuff there,' but nobody who lives in this area knows what goes on here. So we're going to the MDC (Midland Development Corporation) and I are going to work together to kind of bring people up to speed with what's happening at the space port so they can be excited about what's happening right here."
When it comes to transportation, TURO, a car rental service, will partner with the airport and allocate 10% of their gross income to the airport and designated drop off zones for flyers.
Looking long term, the airport received a $2.8 million grant for a new security checkpoint design.
"If you've flown out you've seen that we have some backups at the checkpoint especially during the holidays where people back up down the escalators that's really not a safe environment for people to wait," Ruff said.
They will have an expansion on the south end of the terminal, including a four-lane security checkpoint with a designated Precheck lane for a smoother flow of traffic.
So, what does this mean for anyone catching a flight amidst all the construction? Well, like flyers always recommend doing, show up early.
"There's nothing worse than that feeling when you're in the checkpoint and you're afraid you're going to miss your airplane, so just you know the days when you could arrive here 20 minutes early and it's before your plane left, those are gone," Ruff said.
With exciting new arrivals to the Midland-Odessa area, remember, if you're early you're on time and if you're on time, you've missed your flight.