Stretching between Auburn and Opelika is an essential asset to the economic growth of these two towns. The Robert G. Pitts Airport, just off Glenn Avenue, is in the midst of remodeling and expanding the main terminal and hangers and is planning on building a new flight education building and renovating the taxiways.

"Airports attract industry which provide jobs and tax dollars for schools," Bill Hutto, the airport director, said. “This will aid in Auburn, Opelika and Lee County’s economic growth.”

The 26000-square-foot terminal is scheduled for completion in the early summer of 2010. The up-to-date building has been in the making for eight years, and hopes to serve the community by bringing in companies looking to relocate and need air transportation to operate.

"The Auburn-Opelika area is growing strong economically, and we want people to step off the plane and into the terminal and want to invest in the town. Currently, they see a dated and leaky terminal," explained Hutto.

Along with encouraging new businesses that are relocating to move to the Auburn-Opelika area, the airport intends on continuing its charter services, which are planned according to the person's individual schedule.

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Along with the new terminal, four new hangers are being built for long term leasing. One of the hangers will be exclusively for Auburn Universities jets and the last three are available for approximately 20-year leases. Smaller hangers are also part of the expansion plan in the next few years off the South Ramp.

Each piece of the expansion plan is being built according to demand and funding.

“Our plan changes as the demand changes,” Hutto said. “We still have a plan, but we're willing to be flexible."

The flexibility stretches in matters of how many hangers to build and when, when and where to build new roads and when to expand the runways.

The funding for this project is 95 percent from the Federal Aviation Administration [FAA] 2.5 percent from the state of Alabama and 2.5 percent from Opelika, Auburn and Lee County alike. However, the new flight education building will be completely funded by the business school.

"We're getting the lot ready for them, but that's all we can do now," Hutto says about the building.

Though the flight education building will be funded by Auburn University, flight instructions are available for both students and non-students.

For more information on the airport, the expansion plans and the leasing options for hangers visit www.auoairport.com or call 334-844-4656.