There are plans to renovate and expand Punta Gorda Airport’s Baily Terminal and add a Rental Car Center and in-line baggage handling system, airport officials said.
“In the next few months, passengers can look forward to a new Dunkin’ Express kiosk opening in baggage claim at the Bailey Terminal, and by the end of 2025 we plan to open a new Rental Car Center at the north end of the Bailey Terminal,” Charlotte County Airport Authority CEO James Parish said.
“We are also designing renovations and an expansion of the Bailey Terminal, which will include more space for passengers, extra gates, concessions and amenities,” he said, “but those upgrades will take a few years to complete.”
Design of the terminal is expected to take until the end of 2024, after which the airport authority will develop a construction schedule based on funding in place, Parish said.
There also will be a new Rosati’s Pizza restaurant that will be open to the public at the PGD Air Center at 27450 Challenger Blvd. In addition to Rosati’s national menu, breakfast, flight catering and event catering also will be offered.
The runway-front restaurant is expected to open by April and is being built by franchisee Jordan Lupella who also owns Rosati’s on Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers.
The in-line baggage handling system, which won’t be open to the public, is expected to improve efficiency for Transportation Security Administration workers behind the scenes.
Always welcome are new routes and airlines beside Allegiant Air, Parish said. Currently, Air Trek offers charter service and other private jets drop-off and pick-up at PGD Air Center.
“Sun Country flies seasonally to Minneapolis, and we’ve encouraged them to expand to more cities and/or provide year-round service,” he said.
“Our team markets to every other viable airline to ensure they know about our destination and low-cost opportunity to operate at PGD. As soon as we have a commitment from a new airline, we will be happy to share the news.”
January passenger traffic numbers were not available last week, but an airport spokesperson said more than 1.9 million passengers traveled through PGD in 2023 on a total of 12,012 commercial flights.
In November 2023, Allegiant began service from PGD to Bangor International Airport in Maine, and Allegiant’s newest route to Washington, D.C., begins in May.
Now through Feb. 16, the IDEMIA TSA PreCheck Enrollment truck will be in the short-term parking lot across from Bailey Terminal.
TSA PreCheck was created to provide low-risk travelers with a smoother experience at the airport security checkpoint. The program is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
The enrollment fee of $78 covers five years and provides a VIP experience at more than 200 U.S. airports. Under enrollment, there is no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets, and minors 17 and younger are tagged along with enrolled parents or guardians for free.
Most TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than five minutes in line.
