Texarkana Regional Airport Terminal Groundbreaking and 90th Anniversary Celebration
The Texarkana Regional Airport Authority (“TRAA”) held a livestream groundbreaking ceremony on social media and other websites on Saturday, June 12, 2021, to officially begin the construction phase of the new airport and passenger terminal at Texarkana Regional Airport.
The new terminal is a $36 million project that replaces the current terminal, which was built in 1960 and last refurbished in 1992. The terminal project is funded by the cities of Texarkana, Arkansas and Texarkana, Texas, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Arkansas Aviation Administration, and the Texas Department of Transportation. Local jobs will be created during the construction of the terminal and the terminal will be operational in the spring of 2024.
“The new terminal is a significant investment in the infrastructure of Texarkana Regional Airport and a comprehensive goal of providing passengers with an overall better airport experience,” said Paul Mehrlich, Executive Director of TRAA’s Aviation Division. “The new terminal will contribute to Texarkana’s active economic development and address the future needs of leisure and business travel in our region. We are pleased to embark on this important development.”
The new terminal will include an advanced baggage handling system, opportunities for expansion to more airlines/destinations, and room for concessions. The new terminal will also initially include two closed passenger boarding bridges that connect directly from the terminal to the aircraft boarding doors.
The ceremony coincided with the 90th-anniversary celebration of commercial aviation services between American Airlines and Texarkana Regional Airport, which began on a Ford Trimotor plane on June 15, 1931. The original Ford Trimotor no longer exists, but the airport did host a vintage Douglas DC-3 painted in the original American Airlines livery at the ceremony through a private group known as the Flagship Detroit Foundation. .. TRAA is excited to enter a new era of significant growth and success with American Airlines partners and hopes to continue expanding together in the future.
Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for face-to-face gatherings, the groundbreaking ceremony was held outdoors and direct attendance was restricted to sponsors, key stakeholders, and media members. For the general public, virtual live streaming options were available on social media sites and websites at Texarkana Regional Airport.
TRAA Presenting Sponsor: Farmers Bank & Trust
Gold Sponsor: Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital, McClelland Consulting Engineers, Inc., Eagle Distributing of Texarkana
Bronze Sponsor: York Pecan Co., Wittenberg, Delaunay & Davidson Architects
