MANASSAS — Chantilly Air plans to break ground next month on 60,000 square feet of new hangar space at the Manassas Regional Airport.
Less than six months after opening up services to the public, Chantilly Air will build two new 30,000 square-feet hangars at the airport, along with 32,000 new square feet of office space.
The firm plans to add 20 new employees as part of the expansion, in addition to the 30 it already has in Manassas.
Chantilly Air spokesman Caleb Stiteley says the expansion is all about bringing more commercial air traffic to Manassas, which is already the state’s busiest municipal airport. With more than 90,000 takeoffs and landings a year, the airport is responsible for $375 million in economic activity, which amounted to about 30 percent of the entire state’s economic activity in 2016.
“We’re still trying to build on that number,” said Stitely. “We would rather that traffic come here to Manassas than Dulles, because of not only the cost savings, but fuel is half the cost, and landing fees cost less here, too.”
The expansion project is delayed, as Chantilly Air had planned to open the new complex at the end of the year. Now, the project is expected to open in the first quarter of 2020, adds Stitely.
The Manassas Regional Airport Commission tonight is expected to take a vote on extending Chantilly Air’s current franchise agreement, and to extend it by six months. The current agreement expires in August.
If the agreement is approved, the airport will hike the Chantilly Air’s rent on at least two parcels of land by about three percent, requiring the firm to shell out $21,000 in annual rent.
Chantilly Air began offering passenger service, also known as being a fixed—base operator in September. The firm has 28 years of experience in the air.
