Boeing exec talks about future of Gary airport

Boeing Co. is the world's largest aerospace company, producing aircraft and components for commercial, military and space purposes — with its 2014 revenues surpassing $90 billion. Gary represents a spoke in that multinational business.

Courtney Thompson, Boeing's vice president of governmental relations for the Great Lakes, spoke about Gary/Chicago International Airport serving as home to Boeing's executive fleet before the Gary Chamber of Commerce annual meeting on Wednesday at Majestic Star Hotel and Casino.

Thompson gave an overview of Boeing's wide-reaching business operations, but the future of the Gary airport was the subject of several audience questions following Thompson's speech.

Gary is in the final weeks of a $174.1 million runway expansion, which is expected to be finished by June 25. It will extend one of the airport's disadvantages — a 7,000-foot runway that was too short for most commercial airlines — into an industry standard 8,900-foot runway.

 

The airport is planning for a customs facility, which would be a crucial step toward attracting cargo business to the airport. "I think frankly a cargo business would be terrific (for Gary)," Thompson said.
The airport is operated by AvPorts in a public-private partnership, and there are preliminary talks happening with Ivy Tech Community College to establish an aviation program at the airport. Thompson said Boeing would be happy to speak to airport representatives about possibly participating in the program.

Boeing employs 160,000 worldwide and its primary manufacturing facilities are in Everett, Wash., and North Charleston, S.C. But the company doesn't plan any major manufacturing expansion elsewhere.

"It's probably not likely that we would relocate any manufacturing facility (to Northwest Indiana)," she said. "Our facility in Washington is huge — about 40 football fields long — so it would require a major investment."

Thompson advocates for Boeing's federal and state legislative priorities as it relates to the Great Lakes region. Though the state of Indiana didn't present any issues this year, Boeing is a major player federally in advocating the congressional reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank by June 30.

Boeing is the bank's No. 1 customer, and the bank provides loan guarantees to international airlines who purchase Boeing jets.

(Christin Nance Lazerus - Chicago Post Tribune)