Urban Indiana

Trustees approve new Purdue University Airport terminal as exploration of commercial air service continues

In action needed before bringing commercial air service for Greater Lafayette to Purdue University Airport, the Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (Aug. 4) gave approval to plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts for a new terminal.

This is a significant next step in Purdue serving the state through "ABCD": Airport for the Greater Lafayette region, Broadband for rural counties, (hard tech) Corridor for central Indiana and Purdue@DC, which brings unique capabilities to our nation's capital.

"The university has been actively exploring the return of commercial air service to the Purdue University Airport, and the data shows that Purdue University and the Greater Lafayette community's travel volume could support this service offering," said Rob Wynkoop, Purdue vice president of auxiliary services. "We have more work to do, but the approval of this project helps ensure the needed infrastructure will be in place when the time comes."

More below:
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2023/Q3/trustees-approve-new-purdue-university-airport-terminal-as-exploration-of-commercial-air-service-continues.html

Commercial air service slated to return to Purdue Airport

For the first time in 20 years, commercial air service will return to the West Lafayette/Purdue University Airport next year, the university announced Friday.

Purdue is partnering with California-based Surf Air Mobility Inc. to begin scheduled commuter air service between West Lafayette and O'Hare International Airport in Chicago in early second quarter 2024.

Southern Airways Express, a subsidiary of Surf Air Mobility, will operate flights between the Purdue Airport and O'Hare, which will take place seven days a week, with 24 weekly round-trip flights currently planned.

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/commercial-air-service-slated-to-return-to-purdue-airport

New Purdue airport terminal to be named after Amelia Earhart

A new terminal at the Purdue University Airport will be named after the first female aviator to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean who was also a Purdue instructor and previously flew out of the airport.

The naming of the Amelia Earhart Terminal was confirmed by trustees Friday. Construction on the terminal will begin in June with planned completion in 2025.

The 10,000-square-foot terminal will include a waiting area, baggage claim, restrooms and ticketing and passenger screening. Airport hangar T-1 will be demolished to be replaced with a short-term parking lot.

More below:
https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/new-purdue-airport-terminal-to-be-named-after-amelia-earhart