Line technicians Jeremy Cranmore, left, and Jason Waters converse on the tarmac in front of Chattanooga’s new general aviation terminal, WIlson Air, which is the first national airport to receive a LEED Platinum certification.Losses at Chattanooga Airport’s new general aviation terminal already have hit the entire year’s projected deficit in the first five months of operation.
The general aviation terminal and hangar that opened in August has lost a little more than $300,000 so far, airport officials said. Original projections had put the total first-year deficit for the terminal — which offers fuel and hangar space to corporate planes and pilots — at about $300,000, they said.
Officials at Tac Air, a private company that has provided the same services for about a decade at Lovell Field, said the figures are proof the new $5 million terminal isn’t needed or financially feasible.
Pam McAllister, Tac Air’s general manager, said she thinks the Airport Authority is trying to drive her business off Lovell Field and using public funds in large measure to do so.
“That’s our feeling,” she said.