Although a series of inconceivable hurricanes completely demolished portions of the Gulf Coast; one aviation entity not only has managed to remain standing, but even thrived in spite of the devastation.
Just six miles north of the city proper, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) is an intermodal facility that continues expanding aviation services, frame improvements and increasing its client base. The advent of World War II sparked the development of BTR—then known as Harding Field—because the need arose to develop a nationwide system of public airports for civil aviation usage.
Decades later, the massive destruction of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike shaped BTR’s improvement needs—creating big airport amenities and services with small airport conveniences. Throughout the last eight years, the airport has grown its aviation service offering to include air cargo, charter and GA services; connecting 1.6 million residents across South Louisiana and Southwest Mississippi.
"We meet the demand for business and vacation travel in our catchment area," says Director of Aviation Anthony Marino. "That’s what got BTR into its line of business, and the need it fulfills."
The expansion encompassed various physical improvements, including the construction of its first parking garage four years ago, and its second two years ago. To further accommodate passengers and pilots alike, BTR will complete construction of a third one in August for car rental customers. While more parking is an obvious plus, the amenities will also improve efficiency for BTR’s car rental facilities. In addition, an air cargo building was opened in 2005, and a second air cargo building begins construction in June 2009. A new security access control and fencing project were completed in 2008. "We try to assess our position relative to comparable airports on an ongoing basis," says Marino. "We’re constantly working toward improvement."
Marino’s policy of assessing comparable airports has clearly led to the airport’s motto that "BTR is Better." And if the continuous commitment to growth fails to attract clientele, perhaps the impressive line-up of companies using the airport for business travel will—Shaw Group, Albemarle Corporation, Turner Industries and ExxonMobil all use BTR significantly for business travel. Since Baton Rouge is Louisiana’s capital city, a large number of government officials routinely visit BTR. LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College produce additional air travel demand as well.
Of all BTR’s highlights, however, the most impressive seems to be that the airport is self-sustaining. Although BTR is an agency of the City-Parish Government, it doesn’t receive money from the City-Parish general fund. Instead, over the past 12 years, the airport has secured $463 million in funding to accommodate major capital improvement programs with only $57 million in debt; the remaining monies are from non-debt sources, according to Marino. The aforementioned funds don’t include the $250 million in private sector development. "Most people wouldn’t know how much is involved in handling the significant growth our airport, which we’ve experienced in a relatively short period of time," he adds.
In that relatively short time, BTR also used funding to implement customer service training for all airport employees, from the director of aviation to the janitorial employees, to ensure all customers receive the "best passenger experience possible."
BTR shows no indication of slowing its pace, either. The airport’s progression over the past four years—despite the horrific demolition the hurricanes caused—only serves to illustrate the stability, stamina and safety of the facility, which complements the various amenities and improvements. Representatives recently attended the Network USA 2009 conference in Fort Worth, Texas, in an effort to pursue a new air carrier service and they’re also aiding in the development of 92,000 acres of vacant land in Baton Rouge. Marino concludes, “We’ll continue to pursue prudent growth, while modifying existing infrastructures to meet the demands of our market.” T
For more information, visit www.flybtr.com or call 225-355-0333.
