RDU Terminal 1 to Open March 2 (codes, bus, airport)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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I didn't see any reference to JetBlue in the article. It says Southwest will occupy 5 gates, and four more are available for expansion. (Is $68m/9 a reasonable cost for gates - I have no way to judge.)
Perhaps not unlike the old Terminal C, which I understand was built just for American Airlines?
Correct there - Terminal C was built between '85 and '87 just for AA and American Eagle when RDU was an AA hub. When AA dehubbed RDU in '95, they subleased their gates to Midway Airlines. When they went belly up in 2003, it reverted to being AA/AE only. I do recall seeing Air Canada Jazz flights to YYZ also using Terminal C, though I'm not sure when they began to do that.
Well, since absolutely no tax dollars are used at the airport and it is fully paid by airline landing fees, the outrage might be a bit misplaced. Yes, they do get to issue bonds like a municipality, but that's about it.
JetBlue moved to additional gates in Terminal 2 when they opened in the second phase to make way for this work when they moved Southwest and AirTran (at the time, they were two separate companies) to the old part of the old terminal.
As mentioned, there is room for expansion in Terminal 1. however, they cannot force an airline to all the sudden come here, though they definitely have marketing staff that are trying to convince airlines to run new routes all the time. There is also additional space in Terminal 2 as well as they planed for some expansion when building it.
I guess everyone will really be mad in 15 or 20 so years when the long range plans call for them to build a new terminal 1 and eventually tear down what they just spent $68 million renovating. And no, when it comes to airports, $68 million just does not buy you much.
Also keep in mind that RDU's original plan was to mothball T1 and move ALL operations to T2. The fevered imaginings of some grand conspiracy to give WN sole access to T1 are just that - fevered imaginings. Given B6's image of being an LCC "with class," it's just as likely they requested to move their gates over to T2. Or maybe they figured that if they had to move gates, they might as well just move to the other terminal rather than try to cramp into the old Terminal B (the original RDU terminal) with WN.
Last edited by garnetpalmetto; 02-07-2014 at 09:15 AM..
The fevered imaginings of some grand conspiracy to give WN sole access to T1 are just that - fevered imaginings. Given B6's image of being an LCC "with class," it's just as likely they requested to move their gates over to T2.
Is it just me or is it sickening that taxpayers would foot the $68 million bill for just 2 airlines? SWA & jetBlue. The even more sickening aspect with our airport authority is the forced move of another carrier, forcing them to the other terminal raising their rent in the process. The airport authority then also forced them to give up their gates in T1 to a competitor (SWA).
Taxpayers are not footing the bill. Airline passengers are when they book a ticket and pay the Passenger Facility Charge to RDU.
It's a lot more than just the PFC. The airport revenues include parking fees, auto rental fees, terminal rental fees, etc.
Agreed. Was trying to make a point that it's not "taxpayer dollars".
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