Gary/Chicago International Airport

Infobox Airport
name = Gary/Chicago International Airport


image-width = 204
caption =
IATA = GYY
ICAO = KGYY
FAA = GYY
type = Public
owner = Gary/Chicago Airport Authority
operator =
city-served =
location = Gary, Indiana
elevation-f = 591
elevation-m = 180
coordinates = coord|41|36|59|N|087|24|46|W|type:airport|display=inline
website =
r1-number = 2/20
r1-length-f = 3,603
r1-length-m = 1,098
r1-surface = Asphalt
r2-number = 12/30
r2-length-f = 7,003
r2-length-m = 2,135
r2-surface = Grooved Asphalt
footnotes = Source: Federal Aviation AdministrationFAA-airport|ID=GYY|use=PU|own=PU|site=05303.*A]

Gary/Chicago International Airport Airport codes|GYY|KGYY|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. 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. [cite web | title=Gary Airport Gets Millions in Federal Funding | publisher=CBS Channel 2 | url=http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_016180843.html | accessdate=2006-10-18]

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. [cite web |title=Gary-Chicago Airport |publisher=Solomon Cordwell Buenz |url=http://www.scb.com/?mainpage=2&pagetype=Architecture&p=98&firstlevel=6&seclevel=2 |accessdate=2007-01-07]

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.Fact|date=April 2007

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 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.

Service

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 [http://www.metjet.net/index.html MetJet] has intentions of adding service from Gary/Chicago to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and other popular destinations. [cite news | title=MetJet wants to land at Gary | publisher=The Times of Northwest Indiana | url=http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2007/05/11/news/top_news/doc78607a2b91bb7cd3862572d70082cb5c.txt | accessdate=2007-05-11] 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. [ [http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3882017/?threadid=3882017&searchid=3884746&s=GYY#ID3884746 Viva Aerobus Applied to DOT for July 1 start] ]

As of October 1, 2008, there is no commercial air service at the Gary Chicago International Airport. [cite web| title=Gary/Chicago International Airport|url=http://www.garychicagoairport.com/airsvc.asp| accessdate=2008-10-02]

Airlines and destinations

* Viva Aerobus (Monterrey) [pending government approval] [ [http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/03/11/news/top_news/doc4377bc107f509147862574080081932b.txt Viva Aerobus to offer GYY-Mexico Service] ] [ [http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviation/read.main/3882017/?threadid=3882017&searchid=3884746&s=GYY#ID3884746 Viva Aerobus Applied to DOT for July 1 start] ]

Activity

*Chicago-based Boeing selected the airport to permanently base its Midwest corporate jet fleet. [cite web | title=Boeing Makes Aviation History at Gary/Chicago Airport | publisher=Gary/Chicago International Airport | url=http://www.garychicagoairport.com/PressRelease_detail.asp?ID=8 | accessdate=2007-01-07]

*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 [http://www.garyairshow.com/ Gary Air Show] has based their operations here as well.

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.

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External links

* [http://www.garychicagoairport.com Gary/Chicago International Airport] (official web site)
* [http://www.flygary.org/ Friends of Gary Airport] - Not for profit group promoting GYY as an alternate to O'Hare and Midway
* [http://www.flygary.org/images/dp45001.jpgAerial photo] from Indiana Department of Transportation
* [http://www.nictd.com/service/stations.htm#Clark%20Road%20(Gary) Gary/Chicago Airport Station (NICTD)]
*FAA-diagram|00748

References