Gary/Chicago International Airport

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Gary/Chicago International Airport

IATA: GYY – ICAO: KGYY – FAA: GYY
Summary
Airport type		Public
Owner		Gary/Chicago Airport Authority
Location		Gary, Indiana
Elevation AMSL		591 ft / 180 m
Coordinates		41°36′59″N 087°24′46″W / 41.61639, -87.41278
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	ft	m	Surface
2/20	3,603	1,098	Asphalt
12/30	7,003	2,135	Asphalt
Source: Federal Aviation Administration^[1]

FAA diagram of GYY

Gary/Chicago International Airport (IATA: GYY, ICAO: KGYY, FAA LID: GYY) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) northwest of the central business district of Gary, a city in Lake County, Indiana, United States.^[1] The airport, which serves the Chicago metropolitan area, is 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the Chicago Loop. It is operated by the Gary Chicago Airport Authority, the basis for which was formed by the Chicago Gary Airport Compact signed in 1995. Gary/Chicago International Airport was a hub for seasonal carrier SkyValue Airlines from December 2006 to April 2007. Nearby highway connections include I-90, I-80, I-94, I-65 and the Chicago Skyway.

A long-standing proposal to turn the Gary/Chicago International Airport into Chicago's third major airport received a boost in early 2006 with the approval of $48 million in federal funding over the next ten years.^[2]

Expansion plans include a new multi-level Intermodal Terminal combining three modes of transit – passenger rail, passenger vehicles, and air travel. The rail system is designed to combine both commuter and high-speed lines.^[3]

1 History
2 Airlines and destinations
3 Activity
4 South Shore Train Line
5 External links
6 References

[edit] History

Gary/Chicago is operating as the "third airport" for the Chicago area, supplementing Chicago's major airports, O'Hare and Midway. Gary/Chicago Airport has been designed with an eye towards growth, and the administration is courting the airlines aggressively. Numerous businesses, including Boeing, Menards and White Lodging Services, base their corporate aircraft here. A National Guard installation is also under construction.^{[citation needed]}

Federal funds were secured in January 2006 to move railroad tracks away from the northwest corner to allow extension of the main runway to 9,000 feet, as well as add gates to the existing passenger terminal building. The recent creation of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority is expected to draw more state and local dollars for infrastructure improvements and additions.

Expanding Gary/Chicago Airport is considered an alternative to expanding O'Hare and/or constructing a new airport north east of Peotone, Illinois, 30 miles south of Chicago. Advantages of expanding the Gary airport include its proximity to downtown Chicago and its expandability. This plan is backed by the mayors of Gary and Chicago, while the Illinois state government is in favor of construction at Peotone. Tax revenues from a new airport at Peotone would go to the Illinois state government, while those from an expanded Gary airport would go to a regional airport authority, and thus to the cities of Chicago and Gary.

In the past, Gary/Chicago International Airport has been served by PanAm, Southeast Airlines, SkyValue Airlines, Skybus Airlines and Hooters Air, with flights to locations such as Hartford, Connecticut, St. Petersburg, Florida, Greensboro, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Prior to its bankruptcy problems in 2004, ATA Airlines had planned turboprop service to several Indiana cities. This service was to be operated by its subsidiary, Chicago Express/ATA Connection, but the proposed service was never started as Chicago Express was grounded in March 2005. Before ultimately choosing to serve Chicago O'Hare International Airport in 2006, JetBlue Airways considered adding service to Gary/Chicago International Airport. However, the airline reports it may add Gary/Chicago Airport to its route system in the future.

Skybus Airlines served the airport until the airline folded on April 4, 2008.

A new start-up airline called MetJet has intentions of adding service from Gary/Chicago to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and other popular destinations.^[4] On September 13, 2007, the airport announced that Cape Air is interested in starting flights to Indianapolis International Airport by early 2008.

Viva Aerobus has applied with the U.S. Department of Transportation to begin service to Monterrey, Mexico on July 1, 2008. ^[5]

[edit] Airlines and destinations

Destinations served from
Gary/Chicago International Airport
(As of July 2008)

Viva Aerobus (Monterrey) [pending government approval; begins July 1] ^[6]^[7]

[edit] Activity

Chicago-based Boeing selected the airport to permanently base its Midwest corporate jet fleet.^[8]

For many years airplanes seen in the Chicago Air & Water Show have flown from here, including the military's C5A Galaxy and the Thunderbirds. Since 1999, the Gary Air Show has based their operations here as well.

[edit] South Shore Train Line

The South Shore Line serves the Gary/Chicago International Airport. The station, which is also known as Clark Road Station, is located near Second Avenue, approximately one mile south of the terminal.