Construction work has begun on the $23 million project to build a new terminal building at the Sullivan County International Airport. The airport, which is located in the Town of Bethel, is on a 600-acre hilltop about five miles northwest of Monticello. A 15,000-square-foot two-story terminal will be built, replacing what had been a 55-year-old structure. The project is expected to be completed in the spring of next year and is expected to create 260 construction jobs.
Sullivan County officials hope that the new terminal building will help attract airline service as well as activity by business jets and other general aviation aircraft.
State Sen. Peter Oberacker, who represents the area, said, “The Sullivan County International Airport is a key part of our local economy, and these upgrades will further heighten the facility’s value to the Catskills. With world-class tourist attractions and businesses all within the airport’s shadow, it is vital that we invest in this infrastructure component. When travelers touch down … they should know they have arrived somewhere important. This transformative project will help convey that impression.”
Member of the State Assembly Aileen Gunther said, “Investments like this are game changers for my district. This project will invigorate our economy, drive tourism, and highlight the natural beauty of Sullivan County.”
Plans call for airport operations not to be affected during the construction period. When completed, the new terminal will feature a two-story glass curtain wall with views looking across the apron, taxiway and runway to the Catskill Mountains. The restaurant/bar area on the second floor will have an adjacent deck for outdoor dining and the main first floor waiting area will have an adjacent covered patio for outdoor seating. There will be a pilot lounge and flight planning area for transient flight crews along with conference facilities. The building will use geothermal heat pumps for heating and cooling. Solar panels will generate some of the electricity needed.
The Sullivan County Legislature had accepted an $18.5 million grant from the Governor’s Upstate Airport Development & Revitalization Program, administered by the New York State Department of Transportation to help fund the terminal project.
“We feel this rebuild is essential to attracting the kind of activity and development that the airport is capable of sustaining,” Legislature Chairman Robert A. Doherty said at the time the grant was accepted. “Couple this with the other ongoing investments in the airport, and we believe this facility will be an attractive and competitive destination for aviation and non-aviation businesses.”
When the airport was opened in July of 1969, there was optimism that plenty of the DC-9 and Boeing 727 airliner jets of that day would soon by landing on Sullivan’s 6,298-feet-long by 150-feet-wide runway. Mohawk Airlines ran service to Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Elmira, and New York City with connections to Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Washington. The Concord Resort and Grossinger’s joined forces in a plan to fly in guests for all-inclusive weekend and vacation packages. Ransome Airlines also operated at Sullivan for a time. However, passenger activity never reached the levels necessary for any of the operators to sustain service.
In September of last year, Gov. Hochul announced that nine upstate airports would share $230 million in state grants. In addition to Sullivan, grants went to Albany International Airport, Watertown International Airport, Saratoga County Airport, Syracuse Hancock International Airport, Ogdensburg International Airport, Greater Binghamton Airport, Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport and the Adirondack Regional Airport.
