Public will have opportunity to comment and review proposals on future needs of airport
August 15, 2022 —Today, Blue Grass Airport announced it is developing a new Master Plan, which will forecast future aviation activity and create a strategic vision to accommodate the needs of the region. This plan will cover all areas of airport operations and infrastructure such as safety, passenger experience, facilities, and corporate and private aviation.
During this 18-month process, the airport and its team will gather and analyze data about the existing facility, including physical and operational aspects as well as environmental and financial considerations. This information will be used to create projections for future needs.
“This is a unique opportunity to engage our stakeholders and community partners in assessing the long-term strategic vision for the airport,” said Garyen Denning, chair of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board. “Recognizing that the aviation industry continues to evolve, it is important to ensure that our airport can provide the highest quality facilities and services for our community. We will develop a comprehensive assessment of core infrastructure needs that take into consideration valuable input from stakeholders and community members.”
The airport will consult with local, state and national experts as it creates a new plan for the future. A community leadership advisory committee and technical advisory committee will meet periodically to provide input and advice. In addition, the general public can participate in the process in two key ways:
- Provide comments and receive updates through the website dedicated to the process: bluegrassairport.com/masterplan/.
- Attend a fall 2022 public meeting, where participants will be able to visit various information stations and provide feedback. A date will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Blue Grass Airport is an important component of the economy of Lexington and the 54-county service region,” said Eric Frankl, executive director of Blue Grass Airport. “Because of the airport, residents of Lexington and the region can more conveniently access the national air transportation system, allowing them to conduct business in all parts of the U.S. and internationally, to visit family and friends, and to enjoy vacation destinations. Just as importantly, the airport also makes it easy for hundreds of thousands of visitors to come to Lexington for business meetings and leisure attractions.”
The airport’s latest economic impact study demonstrates that Blue Grass Airport provides an economic impact of $370 million and 3,478 jobs. These figures continue to grow each year, so the Master Plan will ensure the airport can successfully accommodate both current and future passengers. The last master planning process was completed in 2013, when the previous plan from 2005 was updated.
For more information on Blue Grass Airport’s Master Plan process and how to get involved, visit bluegrassairport.com/masterplan/.