Military Business Army using new GM vehicle Page 12
June 25 - July 8, 2021 Vol. 1, No. 3
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bizfayetteville.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE Post-Pandemic
Local malls, shopping centers see shoppers returning bizfayetteville.com
Hospitality
Lake Pines Swim Club leaves void for water lovers Page 16
Military Business
Military Business Center focusing on small business Page 9
DAVID KENNARD/GREATER FAYETTEVILLE BUSINESS JOURNAL
Index
Economic Indicators .............................. 3 Publisher's Note .................................... 4 Achievers ............................................... 7 Military Business .............................9, 12 Technology ...........................................11 The List ................................................15 Hospitality ...........................................16 Biz Leads .............................................21
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Passengers at Fayetteville Regional Airport walk under open ceiling panels and around construction areas near the baggage claim. MORE INSIDE: Fayetteville Regional takes on military flights during Pope Airfield reconstruction. Page 23
WHEELS UP FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL AIRPORT IS HOPING FOR FRIENDLIER SKIES
BY SCOTT NUNN ayetteville Regional Airport (FAY) has experienced its share of turbulence over the years. With passenger numbers and destinations significantly trailing the much smaller cities of Asheville and Wilmington, the city-owned facility has received its share of criticism. At a January 2019 City Council meeting, Mayor Mitch Colvin described the airport as “underperforming,” something he said then-director Bradley Whited failed to acknowledge. “It’s hard to be open for change if you don’t think something is wrong,” Colvin said, according to a Jan. 15,
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2019, article in the Up & Coming Weekly newspaper. (Whited retired in April 2020 and deputy director Toney Coleman moved into the top spot in August). Now, more than two years later, the bumpy ride appears to have smoothed out. As with other airports, the pandemic left even the limited remaining FAY flights nearly empty. Its recovery, however, is proving robust. “FAY continues to be one of the fastest-recovering North Carolina commercial-service airports since March 2020,” according to a statement from the airport. As numbers improved through the See AIRPORT, page 22
FLYING OUT OF FAY Fayetteville Regional Airport now offers nonstop services to three major hubs: Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas/Fort-Worth. That means travelers from FAY can access more than 300 destinations with only one stop.
FAY’S TRAVELERS (January-present)
54% personal/leisure 24% business 22% military