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CEDAR CITY — An airport in one of Utah's fastest-growing areas is going through an expansion of its own.
Construction started this week on a $5.2 million project to expand Cedar City Regional Airport by about 5,000 square feet. The project aims to quadruple the small airport's terminal seating capacity and bring an additional passenger gate while updating security equipment. It also adds new restrooms, a vending area and more capacity for baggage claim, among other project details.
Tyler Galetka, the airport's manager, said the project will fix a growing need for space, but it will also set the airport up for future additions.
"Our current amenities and seating have exceeded our daily need for quite a while," he said in a statement Friday. "These new improvements will not only provide our guests with an elevated experience but will give us the space we need pending any future air service expansion."
Airport officials say construction isn't expected to significantly impact flights in and out of the airport. SkyWest Airlines operates daily service between Cedar City and Salt Lake City International Aiport.
The addition is slated to be completed by May 2025. About 96% of the project will be paid by Federal Aviation Administration grants, while the rest is covered through the airport's operating budget.
Cedar City and its surrounding area remain one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. The Census Bureau estimated that its population reached just under 40,000 in 2023, and it just missed the cut as one of Utah's 10 fastest-growing cities last year. It also listed Cedar City as the eighth-fastest-growing micro area in the nation in both numeric and percentage growth.
The airport also markets its proximity to Utah's national parks, which garnered 10.6 million total visits last year.
Cedar City Mayor Garth Green said maintaining a "great experience" at the airport plays a part in the city's quick growth.
"We don't do anything special to tell people to move here or visit here," he said. "People visit because of our location and access to the outdoors, and it's our job to maintain the quality of life for all."
