Agreement is Necessary Procurement Step in Long-Awaited Fuel Pipeline Project
(Gary, IN – November 15th, 2024) – The Gary / Chicago International Airport (GCIA) a $9.8 million agreement with petroleum giant CITGO, providing the initial step to pave the way for a long-awaited fuel pipeline to service the airport. This agreement provides the initial procurement funding for the design and layout of this critical infrastructure, with initial designs anticipated to begin in Q4 of 2024. Upon the approval of the design, focus will shift to the construction phase, which is tentatively anticipated to begin in Q3 2025. When fully complete, the fuel pipeline will add needed fuel capacity to the airports growing general aviation, cargo service and executive air travel offerings, while ensuring GCIA continues to offer fuel fees that are among the lowest in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
“This agreement paves the way for our airport to remain a competitive, sustainable airport for the foreseeable future, while also ensuring we will be able to service increasing numbers of aircraft,” said GCIA Executive Director Dan Vicari. “This is another critical step in our continued efforts to modernize our aviation infrastructure to remain competitive in the 21st Century.”
The last decade has seen substantial growth and investment occur at GCIA, starting with the expansion of the airport’s main runway in 2015. GCIA’s runway now extends nearly 9,000 feet – the second longest runway in the region after O’Hare International Airport. This expansion has allowed the airport to service larger, heavier aircraft. GCIA opened its U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in 2018, allowing air travelers from any international destination to frequent the airport without needing to clear customs elsewhere.
In 2020, GCIA began cargo service operations via UPS, who signed a long-term lease agreement and recently extended the agreement for an additional term of five (5) years, potentially to run until 2040. Cargo service operations have quickly scaled, and GCIA now ranks 3rd in the State of Indiana in its freight volume, with further growth anticipated in coming years.
In 2022, GCIA received formal Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approvals for its Master Plan, a long-term planning document that will guide the next several decades of airport aviation and growth. In late 2023, GCIA announced its acquisition of the Griffith-Merrillville Airport, making GCIA one of only three aviation “systems” in the State of Indiana.
About Gary/Chicago International Airport
Located minutes from the shores of Lake Michigan and just 25 miles from downtown Chicago, Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) is a full-service airport and a premiere destination for corporate and weekend flyers in the Chicago metropolitan region and Northwest Indiana. To learn more, visit the airport’s new website at FlyGYY.com.
Media Contact:
Adam Gypalo
O: 312-768-4730
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