WEST CHICAGO, Ill. – Sales of Jet A fuel at DuPage Airport in the first half of the year was up over 10% from 2013, the West Chicago-based general aviation facility reports.
Airport officials report 2014 sales have exceeded 2013 every month, with a high of a 15.8% increase this June.
The airport is forecasting additional growth through the end of the year as multiple industry experts forecast a positive year for business jet flights in the U.S.
The increase in Jet A sales is due to new aircraft based at the facility, as well as increased traffic from transient corporate aircraft carrying passengers with business in the Chicago region, according to airport officials.
“The investments we have made in recent years – from renovating our Flight Center to extensive improvements to our runways – as well as those to come, like a new 30,000-square-foot hangar, are attracting new users,” said Executive Airport Director David Bird. “As the industry forecasts further growth, we remain committed to making the kind of improvements that enable us to capture that business aviation growth and build for the future.”
The continued commitment to aviation, especially business aviation, by the DuPage Airport Authority Board of Commissioners can be seen in projects as a $4.2 million renovation of its flight center, which included upgrades to all passenger and crew areas; 2R/20L secondary runway extension; the current 2L/20R primary runway widening project; a new $1.6 million 24/7 Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) station; and additional hangar space planned for 2015. The airport is also equipped with U.S. Customs and a self-funded 24-hour FAA Control Tower.
Currently underway is an $11 million widening of the primary runway to provide increased crosswind capacity for aircraft operations. The widening is scheduled for completion in 2014 and is projected to significantly enhance the airfield capacity.
Additional improvements include a new 30,000-square-foot transient hangar designed for storage of G650/Global aircraft, scheduled for completion in 2015.
For more information: DuPageFlightCenter.com