Lexington, KY - Amidst the $66 million sprucing-up of Lexington's Blue Grass Airport, was the construction of a new facility for general aviation and corporate flights.
As part of an independent, private $10 million investment, TAC Air, a Texas-based private aviation company, cut the ribbon Wednesday morning on its new passenger terminal. Designed and built by local architects and contractors, the 12,000 sq.ft. limestone building enables expanded services for passengers and pilots including an HD theater, a fitness facility, a gift shop with works from local artists and multiple conference rooms.
"For many first time visitorsÖ these facilities behind me are the first impression of Lexington. From business leaders, to equine enthusiasts, from life long residents to occasional visitors it is TAC Air's desire to wow each and every person that walks through our doors," said Christian Sasfai, VP and COO for TAC Air.
"This is a gateway to our community for many people who arrive here on general aviation planes, but also I think it is a very strong statement about the vibrancy of our airport and our community," Mayor Jim Newberry said during a press conference before the ribbon cutting.
In addition to the new private facility, which was paid for entirely by TAC Air, the airport's investment in recent years has brought about a new concourse, a new entryway from Man O' War, a refurbished check-in area and baggage claim, a resurfaced commercial runway and the expansion of the general aviation runway which is set for a ribbon cutting next week.
Greg Arnold, president and CEO of the Truman Arnold Companies, which bought its Lexington operations and former facility 13 years ago from Josephine Abercrombie, said the facility was needed because of the volume of flights - around 1,000 per month - TAC Air handles.
"It would have happened regardless (of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games) but it certainly is needed," Arnold said. "Our whole goal, knowing the traffic that was going to be generated by that, was to be open and complete by the World Equestrian Games.
"Lexington is a very event-driven market, so we needed facilities adequate to handle surges," he said. "Whether it is with the Keeneland races or the Keeneland sales, or basketball games, or football games or the World Equestrian Games, we needed facilities adequate to handle those surge events. We feel like this facility will do that."
Blue Grass Airport Executive Director Eric Frankl said TAC Air's former facility, which will become the new home of the Aviation Museum of Kentucky, did its job very well.
"I thought that was a nice looking, fine facility. But that pales in comparison," he said.
"Having a first class, corporate aviation facility, it's really the equivalent of having a terminal. The terminal is the front door step for a lot of passengers, but this is the front door step for a lot of the corporate community and general aviation and it reflects on Lexington, it reflects on the airport. It is great to have a beautiful facility," Frankl said.
Beyond being an amenity packed facility for air passenger and pilots flying in and out of Lexington anyway, Frankl said the new TAC Air facility will help attract others who aren't visiting Kentucky.
"They're a great operator with great facilities and in the aviation industry, people will come to know that. They'll know about this facility and they'll hopefully come in here as they are flying across the country and need a nice place to stop," he said.