( 7 Votes )

Written by Michael Metzinger | March 05, 2010

I just wanted to apologize for not posting anything in the past week, I really have nothing to talk about. I am waiting to hear something on this reconciliation vote on health care, but until this bill actually passes the House, I do not have much to say. Locally there hasn't been all that much to talk about either, so I decided to do yet another article on the airport until I have some "news" to discuss.

One of my main complaints about the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport is the terminal. With the exception of the gate/holding area, the rest of the terminal seems to be unchanged from the 1960s and 1970s and is in need of some major repairs. Here are a few pictures (click to enlarge) I took of the terminal when I flew out of there in late July 2009: 


As you can see in the top row and in the bottom row, the airport is in dire need of some renovations. It could use some new floors, a better floor-plan, new lighting, a new baggage claim, and perhaps some skylight windows to permeate that part of the terminal. The pictures in the middle are in the gate/holding area and as you can see, it is pretty nice in there, however I have two complains. First off, it is too small. We had a sold out flight and there was not enough seats in there for all 150 passengers to sit on. If this airport is serious about expanding its flight offerings to the Mahoning Valley, this section of the terminal could use some more seats and/or an expansion. Secondly, there are no bathrooms in this secure part of the terminal. What that means you have to leave this area of the terminal, go to the bathroom, and go through security again just to "relieve" yourself. Whoever designed this expanded area did a nice job with the look and feel of it, but it is way too small and is badly in need of some restrooms.

From what I have been able to figure, this expansion took place around 2000-2001 before 9/11, so that is the most logical reason why they did not include restrooms in this part of the terminal. Secondly, the airport was not serviced by large jets back then; we were accustomed to commuter airlines that did not require 150+ seats. However, with the expanded offering of Allegiant Air flights to Myrtle Beach, ironically on the same time of day as the Orlando flights, changes will need to be made in order to service all these passengers. Having one jet-bridge/jet-way made sense in 2000, but not in 2010. The airport should consider an investment in a second jet-bridge/jet-way to adequately service all passengers.

FYI: I am no expert on the airport, so this is just me speaking from first hand experience. If the airport is serious about becoming an airport serviced by a number of airlines, then the changes I mentioned above need addressed badly. Although I was 100% against the stimulus, a project like this would make perfect sense considering the original terminal was constructed through funding from the Works Progress Administration. Whoever becomes the new airport director needs to consider contacting our Congressmen and Senators about getting funding to get this airport fixed up. Like they say, "if you build it, they will come."