Airport manager: master plan advancing; airlines showed interest, restaurant reopens and summer events planned

The airport manager told the Kenai Airport Commission on April 10 that the airport master plan is progressing, with data collection nearly complete, draft inventory and building assessment reports under preparation, and about 90 percent of FAA equipment locates finished.

Staff said HDL (the consultant team) has been compiling 10–15 years of fee history and other data and that the airport expects draft reports to be available this month or next. The manager said airport staff had met with five airlines at a recent forum to discuss future service to Kenai and that the carriers emphasized staying in contact and assessing long‑term growth plans; staff characterized airline interest as present but cautious given current economic signals.

The manager also reported local operational developments: Debbie’s Bistro has reopened in the terminal and staff installed QR codes for the Philippine Basin that link to the airport website. Two community events were announced: a pancake breakfast on June 7 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and an air fair on June 14 from noon to 3 p.m.; staff invited commissioners to have a booth and encouraged volunteers.

Commissioners asked for clarification about whether airline interest referenced potential increased traffic tied to a proposed LNG project; staff said airlines were monitoring the LNG development but would not base decisions solely on it. The manager said the master plan outreach continues and invited commissioners to participate in interviews and to complete surveys being used in the planning process.

The manager’s update was informational; no commission action was recorded on the master plan during the meeting.