Upgrades planned at KRUT

Officials at Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport (KRUT) in Vermont have taken the first steps to upgrade the airport.

“The Rutland Airport Committee is moving forward with a modernization plan for Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport, ensuring the state’s second-busiest — and only other commercial — airport remains a vital transportation hub for passengers, pilots, and emergency services,” airport officials said.

The focus will be on improvements at the terminal, expanded hangar capacity and, potentially, a rehabilitation of the runway to “meet modern aviation standards,” officials added.

Pertinent to general aviation pilots, the plan includes “modernizing hangar facilities and infrastructure to better support local aviation and improve safety,” said Bob Knudsen, vice chair of the Rutland Airport Committee.

“Modernization isn’t about expansion — it’s about reliability and relevance,” he said. “As Vermont’s only commercial airport beyond Burlington International Airport, KRUT plays a critical role in accessibility, tourism, and emergency readiness for southern Vermont.”

The plans at KRUT follow on upgrades at Burlington International Airport (KBTV), with airport officials noting that KRUT’s modernization “represents a complementary investment in the state’s air transportation system.”

“Our goal is to follow the successful example set by Burlington International Airport’s recent upgrades, but at a smaller, regionally scaled level that fits Rutland’s community and traffic needs,” Knudsen said.

In an interview with the local CBS news, he noted the airport hopes to increase general aviation, including electric aircraft.

“We’d like to be a leader of environmentally sustainable aviation, but also general aviation, flight schools, people just going out there and learning to fly,” he added.

The modernization work at Rutland-Southern Vermont Regional Airport is still in the early planning phase, so no specific construction schedule has been set yet, according to Knudsen.

He added airport officials are working closely with VTrans, the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation, “local stakeholders, as well as a few of our elected officials in Montpelier, to ensure that any future projects are phased responsibly, minimize service disruptions, and reflect the needs of the entire region.”

For more information: FlyRutlandVT.com