Santa Fe airport expansion worth celebrating
The ongoing expansion at Santa Fe Regional Airport has been less than pretty, but the first phase of the project is winding up in April. Progress, at last.
The $21.5 million undertaking includes parking lots, a new baggage claim facility, a better check-in area and a coffee shop — work that is more than a year overdue after construction delays pushed it past the original January 2023 completion date.
The slog to complete work is a reminder to ensure all underground utility lines are marked. That way, future construction can proceed without the delays caused when equipment hits lines buried below ground. A lesson learned.
Once this work is complete next month, two more phases of construction are planned, designed to add another 36,000 square feet to the airport in addition to the 8,000 square feet in the first expansion. Each portion of the work is projected to cost $20 million.
The idea is to have a regional airport worthy of a state capital, one that allows tourists to fly in more conveniently but also one useful for the people who live here.
Catching a flight in Santa Fe, with convenient parking near the terminal, is more efficient than having to drive to Albuquerque just to fly to Denver or Phoenix. That is, of course, if the flights are available and parking truly is convenient.
Already, Santa Fe Regional Airport passengers can fly from Santa Fe to Phoenix, Denver and Dallas, with Houston another recent addition.
United Airlines and American Airlines are flying out of Santa Fe, with airport manager James Harris seeking another airline to serve the city. He also is hoping to add flights from the existing carriers to link Santa Fe to Chicago and Los Angeles. L.A., in particular, could be a much-utilized flight given the importance of the film industry in New Mexico. From those airports, traveling Santa Feans have the world before them.
While Saturday’s unveiling of the new airport terminal was a moment to shine a spotlight on progress — the 50 or so guests were smiling — it’s important to note Santa Fe can do more to make travel less troublesome, even as construction continues.
Many airport users have complained — and continue to do so — about obstacles in getting to parking lots because of construction and lack of amenities at the airport. It’s essential to ensure pathways are clear and well-lit at night so people can find their way without fear of falling.
Passengers who are visiting need transportation from the airport, especially after late-night flights. It shouldn’t be complicated to get from terminal to town, and it often can be. Part of improving service won’t be just about providing more gates and amenities; it’s about ensuring basic expectations are met, including the ability to find a ride after the plane lands.
What’s more, the drive from the airport needs to be improved — and that is in the works as well. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state lawmakers have appropriated $4.5 million to build a road from the airport to the N.M. 599 interchange at Jaguar Drive. Planners can develop a more attractive trip to and from the airport, one that will be safer, too.
The months of construction have not always been easy for airport users, but completion of the first phase of the long-awaited expansion is a moment to celebrate for Santa Fe.