GA Getting the Boot at North Carolina Airport

Hangars are set to face the wrecking ball in favor of more airline terminal space at Asheville airfield.

Mark Phelps

Wednesday, January 08, 2025 at 04:45 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

[Credit: Signature Flight Support]

Key Takeaways:

Asheville Regional Airport (KAVL) is demolishing existing general aviation (GA) hangars to make room for a $400 million commercial aviation expansion project, which will increase its terminal gates from seven to twelve.
This move prioritizes commercial aviation, identified as the primary revenue driver and economic benefactor for Western North Carolina.
While current GA facilities are being removed, the airport's master plan includes future areas for new GA hangars, which will be constructed and managed by independent businesses on leased land, rather than by the airport authority.
Signature Aviation, the affected Fixed Base Operator (FBO), will receive a rent reduction and has stated that the changes will not detrimentally affect its overall operations at the airport.

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The Asheville Regional Airport Authority (ARAA) will demolish GA hangars at the facility (KAVL) to make more room for commercial aviation.

“Yes, we are taking back leased aeronautical land close to the airport terminal from Signature [Aviation], the fixed base operator (FBO) at [KAVL],” ARAA spokesperson Tina Kinsey told Asheville news outlet AVL Watchdog. “Commercial aviation is the key driver of revenue for our airport and is vastly important to our region’s residents and the economic strength of western North Carolina, so we must utilize our aeronautical land closest to the terminal to meet commercial aviation needs, especially as commercial air service capacity continues to expand.”