Ruth Haines
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is owned by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, which is overseen by a seven-member board appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The airport is named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, who served as a US Congressman from Michigan from 1949 to 1973 and maintained strong ties with Grand Rapids, where the airport is located. The airport is the second busiest in Michigan, serving over 3.5 million passengers in 2019 and generating over $3.1 billion in annual economic output.
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What You'll Learn
- The airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
- The airport was renamed after Gerald R. Ford in 1999
- The airport is the second busiest in Michigan
- The airport board consists of seven members, appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners
- The airport was named the MDOT 2020 Airport of the Year
The airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, also known as GFIAA. The airport is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, who was a longtime supporter of the airport.
The transition to being overseen by the Airport Authority occurred in 2016, with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval. Before this, for 60 years, Kent County owned and operated the airport through its Department of Aeronautics. The transfer to an Airport Authority meant that governance was given to a regional Airport Authority Board, appointed by the County Board of Commissioners. This board consists of seven members, including two Kent County commissioners, four Kent County citizens, and one citizen from a county other than Kent but within the West Michigan region. Each member serves a three-year term.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority's mission is to create an exceptional travel experience for passengers and growth and prosperity for West Michigan. The Authority is responsible for the airport's operational management, including overseeing its daily functions and activities. The Authority also maintains operational statistics on aviation activity at the airport.
The airport's president and CEO, Torrance “Tory” Richardson, oversees all functions and activities and is responsible for developing and implementing the airport's strategic vision. This includes long-term plans for future development, infrastructure improvement, and guest growth initiatives, such as Project Elevate, which aims to accommodate increasing passenger numbers by adding nonstop international commercial flights.
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The airport was renamed after Gerald R. Ford in 1999
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was renamed in honour of Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, in December 1999. The airport is the second busiest in Michigan, serving over 3.5 million passengers in 2019, with more than 9,000 travellers passing through each day.
The airport was previously known as Kent County International Airport, and before that, Kent County Airport. The airport's name change in 1999 was not the first time Ford lent his name to something in Grand Rapids. He was a long-time supporter of the airport and had strong ties to the community. He also has a council, a portion of the Interstate 196, a federal building, a field house, a job corps centre, and a library and museum named after him.
The airport's management transitioned from the Department of Kent County to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority in 2016. The airport is now managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, with policy and general oversight decided by the seven-member Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board.
The airport has undergone several developments since its renaming, including a $50 million renovation of the passenger terminal building in 2000, a $32 million reconstruction of the primary East-West runway in 2001, and the opening of a 1,000-space express shuttle parking lot in 2002.
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The airport is the second busiest in Michigan
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRFIA) is the second busiest airport in Michigan. The airport is named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States, who served as a US Congressman from 1949 to 1973 and maintained strong ties with Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1999, the airport was renamed from Kent County International Airport to Gerald R. Ford International Airport.
GRFIA served over 2.5 million passengers in 2015, with more than 7,000 travelers passing through each day. As of 2019, the airport served over 3.58 million passengers, with over 9,000 travelers passing through each day. GRFIA offers nonstop service to 34 major market destinations, with more than 140 daily nonstop flights. The airport also offers nonstop service to 23 major markets with more than 120 daily nonstop flights. Additionally, the airport has a $50 million expansion plan, called Project Elevate, which aims to accommodate passenger growth and includes adding nonstop international commercial flights.
The airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, with policy and general oversight provided by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board. The airport generates over $3.1 billion in annual economic output throughout West Michigan and employs over 2,000 people. GRFIA has been recognised for its sustainability efforts, with the reconstruction and expansion of the terminal apron resulting in more than 99% of materials generated being recycled or reused.
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The airport board consists of seven members, appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) is named after Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. The airport is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is the state's second busiest airport, serving over 3.5 million passengers in 2019. The airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, which aims to create an exceptional travel experience for passengers and generate growth and prosperity for West Michigan.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board, also known as the Airport Board, consists of seven members, appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The board is responsible for policy and general oversight of the airport. Each member of the board serves a staggered three-year term, and the board includes two Kent County commissioners, four Kent County citizens, and one citizen from a county other than Kent within the West Michigan region. The board works closely with an Executive Staff, which includes the President & CEO, Vice President & COO, Vice President & CFO, and a management team representative of the airport's primary functional areas.
One notable member of the Airport Board is Peter Beukema, a Michigan native and CEO of Suburban Inns, who was appointed in 2020. Beukema brings a wealth of experience in the travel and tourism industry and serves on various committees, including the Airport Board's Finance & Legislative Committee.
The airport has undergone significant developments over the years, including a $50 million renovation of the passenger terminal building in 2000 and a nine-month, $32 million reconstruction of the primary East-West runway in 2001. In 2018, the airport exceeded three million passengers for the first time, and it continues to play a vital role in the region's economy, generating over $3.1 billion in annual economic output and employing over 2,000 people.
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The airport was named the MDOT 2020 Airport of the Year
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is owned by Kent County. The airport is managed and operated by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, with policy and general oversight provided by the seven-member Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board, appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners.
Project Elevate is a revolutionary expansion plan that aims to accommodate projected passenger growth over the next 20 years. This includes a $90 million extension of Concourse A, the addition of nonstop international commercial flights, and the expansion of the terminal apron. The reconstruction and expansion of the terminal apron resulted in more than 99% of the materials generated being recycled or reused, demonstrating the airport's commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is the second busiest airport in Michigan, serving over 2.5 million passengers in 2015 and offering nonstop service to 23 major market destinations with more than 120 daily nonstop flights. The airport plays a significant role in the region's economy, generating over $3.1 billion in annual economic output and employing over 1,500 people.
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Frequently asked questions
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is owned by the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, which is a regional Airport Authority Board appointed by the County Board of Commissioners.
The Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Board is appointed by the Kent County Board of Commissioners. The board includes two Kent County commissioners, four Kent County citizens, and one citizen from a county other than Kent.
Gerald R. Ford was the 38th President of the United States. He was a long-time supporter of the airport and served as a U.S. Congressman from 1949 to 1973.
