Officials in Buckeye, Arizona, have taken a first step toward expanding their local airport, with an eye toward potential commercial and cargo flights down the line.
According to The Arizona Republic, the city council last month approved an agreement to lease five acres at Buckeye Municipal Airport for the construction of 12 private airplane hangars. The hangars will be built by Vermillion Development, then sold.
City leaders believe the investment will fuel economic growth while creating much needed space at the airport, where existing hangars are at capacity.
“We’re hoping that this is just the first of many… that will bring our airport up to speed and allow some additional aircraft to be stored in our facility and help with economic development,” Buckeye Aviation Director Scott Gray told the council, according to the Republic.
Buckeye Municipal Airport is mainly used by flight schools and private owners with small aircraft. But that could change as activity picks up and the population of the surrounding communities grows.
The council is planning a long-term, 20-year expansion project that would eventually support commercial and cargo flights. The airport would have to acquire more land and build larger runways to make that possible.
Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn told the Republic that the airport could attract cargo operators such as DHL, FedEx, and Amazon.
The newspaper pointed out that Buckeye could help relieve cargo traffic at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and connect Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s plant near Phoenix.
“I think we have an opportunity to be bigger in the cargo arena, and I think we’d have an opportunity, as our population grows, from a passenger traffic perspective,” Orsborn said.
