Gary airport to break ground on new hangar facility
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Gary/Chicago International Airport will break ground Tuesday on a new, $12 million hangar. When complete, the hangar will be leased to Valparaiso-based Wingtip Aviation, which is consolidating its operations to the airport.
The 47,000-square-foot hangar is being funded in part by a $1.3 million grant from the state’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative, or READI.
Once the hangar is complete, Wingtip will operate under a new, 20-year lease with the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority. The facility will remain under ownership by the airport.
Construction is expected to take about a year to complete and is slated for opening by May 2025. The airport said local construction crews will be responsible for the project.
Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari will be joined at the groundbreaking ceremony by Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, Gary Common Council President Tai Adkins, Congressman Frank Mrvan, and other state and local officials.
The project is the latest in growth for Gary/Chicago International Airport, including the December acquisition of Griffith-Merrillville Airport, located about 10 miles south in Lake County.
Last month, the airport also celebrated its 500th international arrival, which was driven by the opening of its Customs and Border Protection facility in 2018.