RDU to break out of box with terminal makeover

Morrisville, N.C. — Raleigh-Durham International Airport officials broke ground Thursday on a $68 million makeover for its aging Terminal 1, referred to by many area travelers as "the big blue box."

The renovation, which is expected to be finished in January 2014, will expand ticketing, security checkpoint and baggage claim areas and add shops, restaurants and other amenities for travelers.

Some locals and many visitors said the upgrade is long overdue, noting the dreary terminal gives people a bad first impression of the Triangle.

"The city is nice and clean. The airport needs a little work," said Michelle Wilkerson, who was at RDU to pick up her mother. "We just moved here from New Orleans, and that airport needs a facelift, but I actually think this one is in worse shape. I was surprised when I moved here to see that."

All airlines except Southwest and AirTran have moved to Terminal 2 to accommodate the renovation, and RDU spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin said airlines will have room to add gates – and flights – in the coming years after the project is done.

“What this does is position us for future growth for 10, 20, 30 years,” Hamlin said.

During the first four months of this year, 1.41 million passengers traveled through RDU, up 2.7 percent from the 1.37 million passengers in the same period last year.

"The worst thing we can do is not be in a position to accommodate that future growth, and so that's why we're taking these steps – to make sure we're in position to handle that growth in this community," RDU Director Michael Landguth said.

Crews pulled out some of the blue metal panels from the Terminal 1 walls on Thursday, and airport officials signed them.

After the makeover, the terminal will resemble the $570 million Terminal 2, which opened in January 2011 and was recently named by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the 20 coolest airport terminals in the world. The magazine said the terminal's architecture – it features long wooden beams and huge windows – reflects the history of North Carolina, and editors commended the terminal's streamlined ticketing process.

Airport officials said the renovation is being paid for with revenue from parking, restaurants and leasing fees from the airlines.

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Latest Comments

Sorry, gate fee, not landing fee. I'm not an aviation expert, just know what the SWA employee told me. SWA had the opportunity to move to Terminal 2, but opted to stay in Terminal 1 because it is less expensive. Once they move into the renovated section, their fees will go up.

mpheels
July 20, 2012 8:29 a.m.

RDU, like most airports charge both a landing dee and terminal fees. I do not know the exact amounts today but back in '06 they were LF = $1.39 per 1000 lbs and TF = $88 sq/ft.

Landing fees are based on weight of the aircraft while Terminal Fees on amount of terminal/gate space occupied.

Most airports compute LFs at the beginning of each fiscal year by dividing the airlines’ share of projected "airfield" costs by the amount of landed weight the airport expects carriers to record in the coming year. By that formula, the cost per 1,000 pounds is raised if the total amount of landed weight is projected to decline. That’s what happened at RDU in 2008, when carriers made sizable service cuts in an effort to deal rising fuel prices.

jet2rdu
July 19, 2012 7:04 p.m.

the new terminal needs an ATM

Hill55
July 19, 2012 6:21 p.m.

mpheels - "There is plenty of room in terminal 2, but RDU charges airlines a higher landing fee to be in terminal 2."

What would the "landing fee" have to do with what terminal is used. There is only one set of runways. Gate fees make sense - landing fees don't.

seankelly15
July 19, 2012 6:19 p.m.

There needs to be more shops and restaurants BEFORE security so those leaving can have meals or drinks or whatever with loved ones before going through security. This is especially important in the case of military personnel whose loved ones may be seeing them off for long terms or to dangerous places.

Iak Hsehpen
July 19, 2012 5:12 p.m.