Mesa goes until mid Feb (went into April this year)
Fort Lauderdale starts back up in Feb
Jacksonville starts back up in March
Savannah starts back up in April
Had a good visit at BLV today. Got to see how the expansion is coming. Supply chain issues have pushed its opening back. It sounds like some sort of partial opening in March is likely.
Passenger side. The Vegas got cut for summer but should be back in fall. It sounds like there may be a focused on shorter routes for awhile due to there still being labor issues. There will be no bases opened in 2023 unless they have already been announced. So 2024 would be the earliest for BLV to open a base.
New FIS/customs should start construction soon and will be ready early 2024. I am guessing they want it ready to go for spring break travel. Based on filings I’m assuming it will be something like 2x a week to CUN to start.
The St. Clair County Transit District has released an RFP for construction for the MetroLink expansion project in St. Clair County to MidAmerica Airport. Bids are due in January with the goal to have the project awarded by the end of January 2023. If there are no delays, construction would begin in March 2023.
The 5.2 mile MetroLink extension from Shiloh-Scott to MidAmerica Airport will be funded, in-large part, by a $96 million Rebuild Illinois Grant. Project stakeholders include St. Clair County Transit District (current owner), Bi-State Development (to own and operate once complete), St. Clair County (controls MidAmerica St. Louis Airport), Gonzalez (project and construction managers) and WSP (engineering designers and provider of environmental planning and construction support services). The expansion will include a 2.6-mile, double-track section; a 2.6-mile, single-track section; and a passenger station at the end of alignment at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. Construction is expected to be complete in Spring 2025.
Expansion of the MetroLink light rail transportation system from its current most easterly ending point near Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport will take a major step forward when a pre-bid meeting with interested contractors takes place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at the St. Clair County Transit District Center.
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If all goes as planned, it is anticipated that construction on the expansion segment would begin in the spring of 2023 with a tentative completion within about two years.
It seems as if G4 has really trimmed their schedule to Florida this winter/spring compared to last. Especially to PIE and PGD, I could swear they had 6-7 flights per week to PGD last year but only 3 this year. Similar with PIE, 4-5 per week last year vs 2 this year.
And I really wish everyone would start using jetways that have windows! Having that extra light really opens up what can feel like a cramped cattle loader. I love the ones that are used at SBP:
For those that are interested...the "systems" (track, traction, and signals) are out to bid for the BLV extension. Pre bid meeting is March 23rd and bids are due by April 25th. https://scctd.org/st-clair-county-metro ... t-systems/
^ That is a bit odd, it asked for mine on my phone too. Never has on my laptop. I’ve got it and most of the other bid documents saved to my computer, I could send them to you.
^Only if it's not too much trouble. I wouldn't mind seeing them, but it's not as though I'm going to bid or have any real need. That said . . . if it's easy, sure. Thanks!
I flew Mid America for the first time to Orlando/Sanford this weekend for spring break. Saved $1500 (four passengers) over Southwest, which is definitely my regular airline. Pretty odd experience. Everyone said no need to arrive as early as Lambert. We got there about an hour and fifteen minutes before takeoff. Very short lines but Allegiant people were rushing like we were late. 20 minutes from door to gate but they started boarding an hour before published takeoff. We pushed off from the gate 25 minutes before takeoff time. Arrived at Sanford a half hour early. We had to wait on the tarmac for a ground crew.
Sanford is actually closer to where we were going, so its location farther from Orlando was not a problem.
Allegiant plane was newer and clean, crew were friendly, but the seats were narrow, thin and little legroom. My petite wife and my husky self were both uncomfortable after two hours flight time.
So I guess my recommendation is to check it out for possible significant savings but I'd only do it again if I was saving that kind of money.
Went over to BLV yesterday to see the progress on the terminal expansion. We are 2 months out from opening of the expansion. It is going to be really nice and really needed. The new seating options are great, lots of power outlets. A lot of natural light makes the space friendly to be in. They are redoing the check in counter area to have a belt behind it like most airports for bags, no more pulling your bag over to the scanner. They are redoing the back of the house to have office space for G4 if they make it a base (fingers crossed). The new security will be much better. Concessions is also under construction and will have a window to sell on land side also. Really liked the glass jetway door for some reason. Nursing room and pet relief areas being added also.
FIS construction should start soon in anticipation of Viva Aerobus coming in. They are enlarging the apron for more parking space.
Work has started landslide to match the new to the old. It will happen airside once the expansion opens
Looks quite comfortable. Any reason beyond costs that Allegiant doesn't try to do a bit more branding? Being the only airline there, I would imagine they would really want to make it feel like Allegiant's airport. Even the sign behind the ticketing stand is quite lackluster.
Looks quite comfortable. Any reason beyond costs that Allegiant doesn't try to do a bit more branding? Being the only airline there, I would imagine they would really want to make it feel like Allegiant's airport. Even the sign behind the ticketing stand is quite lackluster.
That was brought up that the airport wants them to put in a better sign.
Midamerica opened their new terminal extension today.
Increases space from 53k to 94k square feet.
2 new gates
Nursing room
Family bathroom
Pet bathroom area
Storm shelter
New security area
Much nicer than the old section, which will up upgraded to match.
Go v Pritzker, Lt gov, Scott AFB commander, Allegiant reps, among others there today.
Sounds like a flight to Cancun might be pushed back a year to 2025
^ I predict 5 years from now the primary user of that station will never step foot in the actual airport. I think Mid-America/Metro East leaders have big cargo and manufacturing plans. This will be an employment connection.
I'm in agreement with addxb2. It's highly unusual the way this extension was announced (out of the blue) and the way it's being funded (solely by the state with no local funding). I think the State of Illinois reached an agreement with major investors to build this infrastructure as a precondition for a significant future investment. I'm thinking investment well above and beyond what Boeing has already announced.
