You might say Fayetteville Regional Airport has come a long way since the airline began operations in 1949 on 722 acres east of U.S. Business 301 with the old Piedmont Airlines as the only carrier of passengers to and fro from one destination to another.
We knew the airport as Grannis Field.
It was nothing fancy — just a brick building with a flight control tower atop. Passengers simply walked from the boarding gates onto the propeller aircraft, while family members wished them a safe trip.
“I am excited to have been selected to assume this critical leadership role as airport director of Fayetteville Regional Airport and to contribute to the airport’s continued success and growth,” Andrew LaGala said in August, when the city announced LaGala would succeed Tony Coleman as the airport director. “Maintaining an efficient full-service airport with quality airline service is a key element in local economic development efforts, and I see tremendous opportunity for FAY to enhance its potential to contribute to those efforts.”
LaGala has been on the job since Oct. 2, and the former director of Lynchburg Regional Airport in Lynchburg, Virginia, was right there Friday as five Fayetteville City Council members joined with members of the Airport Commission to celebrate the completion of Phase III renovations for the main terminal.
Phase III
“Phase III renovations included the reconstruction and expansion to replace the existing main terminal first story baggage claim wing roof to replace the old out baggage luggage room, which had been replaced with a new and improved outbound baggage system,” said Loren Bymer, who is director of marketing and communications for the city. “Additional square footage was added for the Concourse B seating, adding large windows with expanded seating between gates 4 and 5. This ensures that as FAY continues to expand and more airlines utilize gates, there is ample seating for passengers before they board their flight.”
The concourse roof has been replaced and updated, Bymer said.
Renovations include a VIP lounge for notable travelers, Bymer said, including “elected officials, soldiers preparing for deployment, White House visitors and other guests that are in need of privacy when flying in and out of FAY.”
American Airlines and Delta Airlines are the prime commercial carriers at the facility, but the airport is preparing for future carriers.
“Thanks to the Fayetteville City Council, we are now able to be more competitive when speaking with additional carriers to begin flight service in FAY,” Bymer said. “FAY is in talks with multiple low-cost carriers. We hope to bring expanded flight options with new destinations for our passengers.”
Phase I and Phase II
Phase I of the main terminal renovations began in 2017, beginning with Concourse A, the city says, when the airport received $61 million in federal and state funding for terminal improvements from the Federal Aviation Administration and the N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation and Federal Aviation Administration.
Those renovations, according to the city, included the addition of four new jet bridges, construction of a new concourse, a new restaurant and improvements to Fayetteville Public Works Commission transformers.
Phase II renovations included expansion and upgrades including a terminal entrance canopy, reconstruction of the rental parking lot, an enhanced security screening checkpoint area, new airline offices and counter spaces, new escalators and elevators, upgraded baggage claims wings and new administrative offices.
“Fayetteville received a $5 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration supported by Congressman David Rouzer,” Bymer said. “Fayetteville received $2.3 million from the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation. Each grant goes directly to funding our International Arrivals facility. These grants are already allotted for airport improvement projects and assist with ensuring our new terminal project does not affect local dollars and will ensure with keeping the airport self-sufficient.”
International travel for Fayetteville? It’s on the drawing board.
The International Arrivals facility is scheduled for 2026, according to the city, and will be used for military aircraft returning from overseas, but the goal of the terminal is to create an entry point for international commercial, an on-airport military flight department supporting the U.S. Army Reserve Command and U.S. Army Forces Command, as well as regular military international travel via military and charter aircraft.
“Fayetteville initially will partner with active-duty forces to be an entry point to service members returning from overseas,” Bymer said. “However, we do hope to eventually enter discussions with air carriers to bring international flight frequencies for our civilian passengers looking to travel internationally. Civilian international travel is still a way off, but we hope with the terminal improvements and expanded space, we are able to draw an interest from air carriers.”
Epilogue
Fayetteville Regional Airport has come a long way from 75 years ago when Piedmont Airlines ascended over our Cumberland County geography and transported passengers to localities such as Charlotte, Asheville and Wilmington and states including Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio.
The drive down Airport Road is almost picturesque, and you’ll find a clean terminal with all the amenities for air travel, and the American Airlines and Delta Airlines jets on the runways waiting to soar into and beyond the clouds.
And holiday scuttlebutt has it that a fellow with rosy cheeks, a little round belly and a white beard will be there somewhere around Christmas Eve night for the airport control tower folks to send him on his way with some precious cargo of his own before making his way back to the North Pole for a long winter’s nap.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
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Many a Sunday afternoon was spent with my parents in the 1950’s and 60’s watching the planes come and go from Grannis Field. My father operated the small restaurant in the original structure. Good memories.