TRAVEL
Terminal TLC
Looking beyond the pandemic at CCIA BY: KIM BRIDGER-HUNT
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hen the Hayden W. Head Terminal was officially opened in 2002, it was both a breath of fresh air and a wonderful new way to welcome visitors to Corpus Christi. This modern terminal, with its high ceilings, windows galore and spacious public pathways, really spoke to the community. We could truly say, “This is what Corpus Christi looks and feels like.” Since that time, the terminal has continued to be the fabulous gateway to our community that everyone imagined. That was nearly 20 years ago. The good news is that the terminal is still a beautiful building. It still represents everything we love about the Coastal Bend from the watery blues to the sky-lit colors that hang from the ceiling and adorn the walls. But it’s probably no secret that a nearly 20-yearold facility needs some rehabilitation. Particularly in need of modernization and replacement are many of the systems and big pieces of equipment in the terminal that customers rely on to get where they’re going. The elevators are nearly 20 years old. The escalators are beginning to show signs of wear in ways that cannot be remedied by routine maintenance work. The terminal has reached the point where investment in new equipment, repairs to aging roofs and the replacement of jet bridges and luggage systems will have to be considered. During the next several years, visitors to Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA) will notice projects in the works and things taking on a shinier appearance. It is
not for the sake of being shiny, however, but rather, the need to give new life to a very important piece of the community. Despite the difficulties brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, people undoubtedly have a tremendous hunger and need for travel. With each month that passes, CCIA is hosting more and more travelers. In November, the airlines that serve CCIA will be operating about 75 percent of the flights and seats that were offered here this time last year. This is indicative of the airlines having a lot of confidence in this market. CCIA’s rebound has been quite phenomenal. Each month since April, traffic at CCIA has increased anywhere from 10 to 20 percent over the previous month. To date, we’ve seen the return of more than 50
The safety of our visitors, passengers, tenants and employees is our most important goal.
percent of our normal traffic. Future bookings at CCIA are outpacing the national average. No one knows what next month will bring or if we have cleared our last big COVID hurdle. The safety of our visitors, passengers, tenants and employees is clearly our most important goal right now. CCIA will continue our enhanced focus on cleaning and disinfecting the terminal and using technology that helps us maintain a safe environment for everyone. The airport staff will work to plan and pursue projects in a measured way so that the work will have the least possible negative impact on customers. And rest assured that when you are ready to travel again, CCIA will be ready for you. When you make the choice to FlyCCIA, you are investing in the future of your airport.
Kim Bridger-Hunt is the marketing manager at CCIA. For more information, contact her at kimb@cctexas.com.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF CCIA
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