Appleton International Airport coming soon
GREENVILLE – Travelers destined for the Fox Cities could be landing at Appleton International Airport before the end of the summer.
Officials expect Outagamie County Regional Airport will make its long-awaited name change in August. Work is under way to build a U.S. Customs and Border Protection station, which allows the airport to claim international status.
The county board last year approved the name change to take effect after it was determined whether the airport would offer customs services. Without customs, it would have become "Appleton Airport," but the county has secured conditional approval from the federal government to have a station. Building plans that meet government specifications have been drawn up and the county is taking bids.
Both the customs and re-branding projects go to the heart of the airport's mission, director Abe Weber said.
"The airport belongs to the community, and we want to make sure we're taking it in a direction that supports the community," Weber said.
The airport is seeking customs status as a "user fee airport," which means the airport would fund the operation. Officials plan to recoup costs from those who use the customs service.
Customs inspection at the airport will allow private aircraft to land in the Fox Valley without having to obtain clearance elsewhere. The airport also would be able to bring in cargo from abroad. Plans call for an operation that would serve aircraft of 20 passengers or fewer.
The pursuit of customs service came at the request of businesses in the region, County Executive Thomas Nelson said.
"I think it's great for our airport, but this is a clear cut sign that the Fox Valley economy is on the rise," Nelson said. "We're not just a regional presence, but have an international footprint."
The name change was also rooted in economic development goals.
An Outagamie County committee charged with studying the value of a name change argued "Appleton" could draw customers from competing airports when they book flights to conduct business in the Fox Valley. Those from outside the region often aren't familiar with Outagamie County; they're looking for Appleton, the committee said.
Business travelers make up 80 percent of the airport's commercial traffic. The airport relies on commercial flights for more than half of its revenue.
Plans for the customs facility call for renovation and addition to an existing airport building. The county will close bidding for construction on March 19 and officials anticipate work to begin this spring.
— Jim Collar: 920-993-1000, ext. 216, or jcollar@postcrescent.com; on Twitter @JimCollar