Runway to Renovation: Positive changes for Durango-La Plata County Airport by Elizabeth Miller
Photos Courtesy of Durango-La Plata County Airport
If you value your time, there’s no more efficient way to get in or out of southwest Colorado than the Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO). Short TSA lines, close parking, and efficient boarding practices create a stress-free launch to any trip. DRO welcomes approximately 400,000 passengers annually and provides a gateway to Durango, southwest Colorado, and the Four Corners region. The original Durango-La Plata County Airport rested on the mesa where Fort Lewis College now stands. As air travel and technology grew, the runway space became a challenge and the airport was relocated in the mid-40s to where it currently resides, about 10 miles outside of Durango. The current terminal was built in 1988, and the airport began to see significant growth during the early 2000s. Over the years the airport has gone through several renovations and expansions. The most recent was the Runway Rehabilitation Project, which resulted in a ten-day runway closure in September for routine asphalt maintenance. With an eye toward the future, DRO is looking to expand its infrastructure to support the increased demand for air service in our community. Tony Vicari, aviation director for the Durango-La Plata County Airport noted, “What we’ve seen over the last fifteen to twenty years is that our 50 Durango Magazine Winter/Spring
overall traffic has doubled, which puts constraints on daily operations and future growth opportunities for airlines.” With the increase in traffic, the airport has outgrown its current terminal and plans to renovate and expand are underway.
Tony Vicari, aviation director at Durango-La Plata County Airport
Funded solely by revenues at the airport, DRO initiated a formal terminal facilities design project in September of 2021, looking at options to expand the existing
terminal. Phase one, slated to begin in the Spring of 2023, includes additional airline gate seating and an upgrade in restroom facilities and food and beverage options, incrementally expanding post-screening services available at the airport. After these improvements and expansions, a larger, more sweeping renovation project will be underway, anticipated in 2024. This would move the existing TSA screening checkpoint to develop a more streamlined, linear space and add an additional airline gate. Baggage claim will be moved and receive a facelift, with the renovations reorienting the entire flow of the existing airport. This longer project will likely take 18-24 months of construction to work around existing operations. “It’s exciting we have a path forward, and these renovations should really improve passenger experience, and also create a much better conduit for us to have a quality platform for airline recruitment,” Vicari said. These improvements to the facilities will enhance the ability of the airport to gracefully and efficiently accommodate multiple larger aircraft simultaneously. Improving passenger experience is also at the heart of DRO’s design project, as well as providing a pathway for airline recruitment. Airlines gravitate toward markets where there is a strong and consistent demand. With the renovation project, the air-