Stockton airport approved for $26M in upgrades

(FOX40.COM) — Stockton Metropolitan Airport, the air traffic hub of San Joaquin County, has been approved by the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors to undergo a $26 million upgrade.

The board approved the multi-million dollar upgrade during their meeting on Tuesday as there are some features at the five-decades-old airport that are in need of some improvements, according to the county.

The county will be footing the bill for the entire project along with $2.5 million from Measure K revenues.

Upgrades will include:
• Adding five new gates
• A new and larger hold room to accommodate more flyers per hour
• Remodeling parts of the existing baggage claim
• Changes to the TSA security area
• Ticket counter improvements at existing airport terminal
• Add space for a rent-a-car counter
• New Restrooms

One of the larger projects within the planned upgrades is $10 million worth of improvement to the terminal.

The county’s report states that the terminal has seen few changes since it was built in 1965 and much of the building still has its original plumbing.

It was also noted that the terminal’s waiting area is still scaled for airlines operating significantly smaller aircraft, which has led to congested waits for flyers as passenger airplanes have grown in capacity.

Other planned changes to the airport include:
• Acquiring existing commercial hangars
• Redesigning and restoring the west ramp
• Construct 38 units of new aircraft storage hangars
• Add 10 units of aircraft sunshade awnings
• Construct a new pilot center and self-serve fueling facility

Along with addressing upcoming additions to the airport, the funding will also go towards completing a siting study for a new air traffic control tower.

Currently, Allegiant Air is the only passenger airline operating out of SCK with the remaining air traffic being cargo and general aviation flights.