From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gary/Chicago International Airport (IATA:
GYY, ICAO:
KGYY, FAA LID:
GYY) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of
the central business district of
Gary, a city in
Lake
County, Indiana, United States.[1] The
airport, which serves the Chicago metropolitan area, is
25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Chicago Loop. It is operated by the Gary
Chicago Airport Authority, the basis for which was formed by the
Chicago Gary Airport Compact signed in 1995. Gary/Chicago
International Airport was a hub for seasonal carrier SkyValue Airlines from December 2006 to
April 2007. Nearby highway connections include I-90, I-80, I-94, I-65 and the Chicago
Skyway.
A long-standing proposal to turn the Gary/Chicago International
Airport into Chicago's third major airport received a boost in
early 2006 with the approval of $48 million in federal funding over
the next ten years.[2]
Expansion plans include a new multi-level Intermodal Terminal
combining three modes of transit – passenger rail, passenger
vehicles, and air travel. The rail system is designed to combine
both commuter and high-speed lines.[3]
History
Gary/Chicago is operating as the "third airport" for the Chicago metropolitan area,
supplementing Chicago's major airports, O'Hare and Midway.
Gary/Chicago Airport has been designed with an eye towards growth,
and the administration is courting the airlines aggressively.
Numerous businesses, including Boeing, Menards and White Lodging Services, base their
corporate aircraft here. A National
Guard installation is also under construction.
Federal funds
were secured in January 2006 to move railroad tracks away from the
northwest corner to allow extension of the main runway to 9,000
feet, as well as add gates to the existing passenger terminal
building. The recent creation of the Northwest Indiana Regional
Development Authority is expected to draw more state and local
dollars for infrastructure improvements and additions.
Expanding Gary/Chicago Airport is considered an alternative to
constructing a new airport
near Peotone, Illinois, 30 miles south of
Chicago. One advantage of expanding the Gary airport is its
proximity to downtown Chicago. This plan is backed by the mayors of Gary and Chicago, while
the Illinois state
government is in favor of construction at Peotone. Tax revenues
from a new airport at Peotone would go to the Illinois state
government, while those from an expanded Gary airport would go to a
regional airport authority, and thus to the cities of Chicago and
Gary.
Service
In the past, Gary/Chicago International Airport has been served
by PanAm, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines
and Hooters Air,
with flights to locations such as Hartford, Connecticut; St.
Petersburg, Florida; Greensboro, North Carolina
and Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina. Prior to its bankruptcy problems in 2004, ATA Airlines had
planned turboprop service to several Indiana cities. This service was to be operated
by its subsidiary, Chicago Express/ATA Connection,
but the proposed service was never started as Chicago Express
was grounded in March 2005. Before ultimately choosing to serve Chicago O'Hare International
Airport in 2006, JetBlue Airways considered adding
service to Gary/Chicago International Airport. However, the airline
reports it may add Gary/Chicago Airport to its route system in the
future.
Skybus
Airlines served the airport until the airline folded on April
4, 2008. Since that, there have been no scheduled flights out of
the Gary/Chicago Airport.
On September 13, 2007, the airport announced that Cape Air is interested in
starting flights to Indianapolis
International Airport by early 2008; as of April 9, 2009, that
airline's westernmost destinations are in New York and Pennsylvania[4].
Viva Aerobus has applied with the U.S.
Department of Transportation to begin service to Monterrey, Mexico on July 1, 2008 [5];
as of April 09, 2009, that airline's only American destination is
Austin, Texas
[6].
Airlines and
destinations
Destinations to be served from
Gary/Chicago International Airport
pending government approval
| Airlines |
Destinations |
| Viva Aerobus |
Monterrey [pending government approval] [7] |
Activity
- Chicago-based Boeing
selected the airport to permanently base its Midwest corporate jet
fleet.[8]
- For many years airplanes seen in the Chicago Air & Water
Show have flown from here, including the military's C5A Galaxy
and the Thunderbirds. Since 1999, the Gary Air Show has based their operations here as
well.
- High tension power lines along the West end of the airport are
buried. A tentative agreement has been reached with the railroads
that will allow relocation of elevated tracks currently blocking
the west end of runway 30. Completion of these projects is required
to make way for a lengthening of the main runway.
Ground
transportation
The South Shore Line commuter rail
train serves the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The station,
which is known as Gary Airport/Clark Road,
is located near Second Avenue, approximately one mile south of the
terminal.
External
links
References
| Airports in Indiana |
|
| Detailed Airport List |
|
|
| Primary Airports |
|
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| Reliever Airports |
|
|
General Aviation
Airports |
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