MBS International Airport (MBS, KMBS), United States of America

MBS International Airport is situated in the region of Freeland in Michigan, USA. The airport serves the three cities of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw, and was formerly called Tri City Airport (its name was changed in 1994 to MBS, representing each city as its first initial). The airport was established in 1943 and operations began in 1946.

MBS International is now the fourth-busiest commercial airport in Michigan and is owned by Bay County and the cities of Midland and Saginaw (controlled by MBS International Airport Commission). The airport covers a site of 3,200 acres (13km²) and has two runways (5/23) 8,002ft × 150ft (2,439m × 46m) and (14/32) 6,400ft × 150ft (1,951m × 46m).

MBS international airport passenger numbers

MBS handled 348,281 passengers in 2007, which was a decrease from 382,140 in 2006. Passenger numbers have reduced over the last nine years, which translates into around 500,000 fewer passengers since 1998.

MBS used to be the third-busiest airport in Michigan but has been losing business to nearby Bishop International Airport in Flint, which can offer more flights and cheaper fares.

It is hoped that a new terminal project at MBS will regenerate the airport's fortunes and increase passenger numbers.

Commission chairman, Dr Ken Distler, commented: "With a state-of-the-art airport terminal, we will be well-positioned for economic growth.

"The new MBS will give us the efficiency, convenience and image we need for the market access and quality of life we want in mid-Michigan."

The airport commissioned a study in 2005 from the Boyd Group / ASRC of Evergreen, Colorado, which estimated that the economic benefit of MBS International Airport to the tri-county area of Midland, Bay and Saginaw is more than $100m a year.

New MBS airport terminal

On 19 September 2008 the nine-member Airport Commission of MBS International announced the approval of plans for a new state-of-the-art passenger terminal (with a flowing wave-shaped glass roof).

The new 75,000ft² (7,000m²) terminal building was designed by aviation architect Reynolds Smith & Hills of Jacksonville, Florida and will require an investment of around $48m. The project has qualified for the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) improvement programme.

The new terminal project was put forward because it was determined that the old terminal building, which opened in 1965, would be too difficult to extend and remodel. It has not yet been decided what to do with the old terminal when the new one comes into operation. The construction, just north of the current terminal, began in 2009 and is expected to be completed by 2013 (three to five-year project time-frame).

The construction of the terminal speeded up after a grant from FAA was sanctioned in April 2009. By the end of 2009, the site of the new terminal was cleared and fenced, and water and sewer services had been provided.

The new steel-and-glass terminal will adopt green principles using natural daylight as much as possible, as well as sustainable materials such as local white pine and other timber to reflect the lumber industry past of the Saginaw Valley (recycled building materials will also be used). The terminal construction will adopt some leadership in energy and environmental design from the us green building council (LEED) principles without seeking formal certification.

MBS improvement programme progress

The FAA provided $1.6m of funding toward the project, which has been used to install water and sewer services as well as purchase 115 acres of land for the new terminal project. On 2 April 2009, the airport commission announced that the airport would receive an additional $12.7m grant from the FAA to continue the construction of the new terminal.

Other related projects funded by the FAA grant include relocating ground radio antennas on the airport site and hiring architects Reynolds Smith & Hills.

Funding from the FAA will make up around 70% of the total cost of the new terminal project and the state of Michigan will provide match funding of 2.5%. The MBS will provide the remaining $10m of funding for the terminal.

MBS terminal features

The new terminal will boast a number of updated features. Passengers will have the convenience of being able to have meals and drinks on both sides of the security checkpoints as there will a number of new food concessions and gift kiosks.

There will be a larger, more efficient baggage claim area than the old facility and a larger passenger security screening to avoid delays (larger by 10,000ft²).