Thursday, April 8, 2021

FAA approves airport switch

MOBILE, Ala. - The Federal Aviation Administration has approved shifting commercial air service from Mobile Regional Airport in west Mobile to the Mobile Downtown Airport at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. The Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) announced Tuesday that the FAA had approved its 20-year master plan for development, which includes the airport swap. The FAA approval was critical for the project to receive future FAA funding. The MAA already has established a small terminal at Brookley, designed to service budget carriers. Moving all Mobile’s commercial passenger carriers to Brookley will require the construction of a new terminal and additional work. The MAA says phase I work will include a new terminal that will be slightly smaller than Mobile Regional Airport’s terminal, at 130,000 square feet, but will have features that will allow it to qualify as an international terminal. Phase 1 also will include a parking garage, additional parking lots and tarmac expansion; the estimated price tag for the terminal and other features is $160 million. (Source: multiple, including al.com, WKRG-TV, Simple Flying, 04/06/21)