Gary airport lands fed bucks to attract airlines

The U.S. Dept. of Transportation has awarded the Gary/Chicago International Airport $600,000 to aid in landing a passenger airline at the airport.

The grant was announced Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., who has worked along with U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, R-Ind., to win federal support for the airport.

"A strong and vibrant Gary/Chicago airport will create good-paying jobs, attract additional economic investment to the area, and improve the quality of life of everyone in Northwest Indiana," Visclosky said.

The grant comes from the Transportation Department's Small Community Air Service Development Program, which helps small communities overcome obstacles to local air service.

The airport has been without regularly scheduled passenger service since January, when Hooters Air flew its last flights out. Southeast Airlines ended service there in November 2004.

The $600,000 grant is significant and will help the airport in its effort to bring passenger service back, according to Chris Curry, the airport's deputy director who takes over as airport director next week.

"Our plan is to use it as a revenue guarantee to go after commercial services, the likes of Delta, JetBlue or other major carriers that can connect to a hub," Curry said.

Earlier this year, the airport secured a $57.8 million Federal Aviation Administration grant to extend its main runway to 9,000 feet from its current 7,000 feet, which would make it capable of handling the largest passenger and cargo jets.