Visclosky: Gary Airport has ‘incredible’ potential
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Former Indiana Congressman Pete Visclosky, who now serves as chairman of the Gary-Chicago International Airport Authority, does not expect commercial passenger travel to return to the airport any time soon, not that he wouldn’t welcome the additional revenue it could potentially bring. But the former lawmaker, who spent decades trying to land federal funding for projects in his home district of northwest Indiana, says the timing isn’t right.
“It’s not going to happen if we don’t make the necessary investments both on the site of the airport, and infrastructure in and around the airport,” Visclosky said during an interview with Inside INdiana Business. “The airport has maintained its status to accept passenger service. [But] I don’t see that in the immediate future.”
Scheduled passenger service from Gary airport came to an end August 2013, when Allegiant Air cancelled service, blaming low demand.
The airport also struggled with competition from Chicago’s Midway International Airport, which is just 25 miles away and O’Hare International Airport at about 55 miles away.
Still, Visclosky, who was named GCIA Authority chair in January after serving in Congress for 36 years, says Gary-Chicago Airport and the city of Gary itself, are at a turning point.
“I absolutely believe to the bottom of my heart that Gary and the airport are at an inflection point for a number of reasons,” Visclosky said.
One of those reasons is by putting partisanship aside. Visclosky, who is a lifelong Democrat, was appointed to the position in January 2022 by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb.
“There is so much travail in the public arena, [yet] gentleman from two different parties, and all they want to do is get a job done,” said Visclosky, who will serve a four-year term.
Last month, the GCIA Authority announced it will resume independent management, operations and development of the airport. The authority signed agreements in 2014 with airport manager Avports and airport facilities developer Aviation Facilities Co., both based in Virginia.
After eight years, the airport says its sustained growth and added infrastructure offerings has positioned it to be independently operated.
“We’ve come to a point where we’re a viable entity. We have a professional director at the airport, we have a great board, we have a governor and a mayor that are committed to make this thing work,” explained Visclosky. “I think it simply allows us to be more nimble, allows us flexibility and opportunity just to go right now and not have any additional layer of management.”
Visclosky says the transition away from the two management firms should be completed by the end of summer. He says terminating the contract is in line with the vision of the airport to continue building the airport’s general aviation business.
In May 2020, UPS Airlines announced it was adding its express parcel services to Gary/Chicago International Airport to and from Louisville International Airport, home to UPS WorldPort. Flights launched in November of that year.
“What I have learned is the potential here is much greater than I had ever anticipated in many different areas,” said Vislclosky. “One of the problems we’re struggling with now, and it’s a wonderful problem to have, is we don’t have enough space for the demand today.”
Visclosky tells Inside INdiana Business he expects the airport will finance construction of additional hangar space within the next 18 months.
“I would like to be prideful and tell you that we are now the third leading cargo airport in the state of Indiana. However, in the country, we are 119. So, from our perspective on the board, there’s a lot of catching up to do and an incredible potential,” stated Visclosky.
Even though Visclosky spent decades at some of the highest levels of government, serving time on congressional committees that included appropriations, transportation and infrastructure, there has been a learning curve as chair.
“Because I came in with a blank sheet of paper, the only goal I had is let us be the best possible airport we can be. Every airport its own dynamics, and to learn and to look at what the greatest resources we are, and let’s develop them.”
Editor’s Note: Visclosky focused much of his time in Washington to help secure federal funding for a number of improvements to the South Shore Line. In Thursday’s INside Edge Morning Briefing newsletter, we will examine his role in the Double Track and West Lake Corridor projects and what impact they might have in northwest Indiana.