Get ready frequent fliers for another airport terminal you'll be happy to fly through... or wait in security lines to access. Introducing, North Terminal.
Metro Airport's newest building promises to be a much improved version of the well-worn Smith Terminal when it opens later this month. It will also serve as the latest example of how the proposed Aerotropolis could super charge the local economy.
But before we get to experience it, let's talk about its expected impact again and again and again. Kicking things off will be a community open house on Saturday. That will be followed by Crain's Business over Breakfast talk on the Aerotropolis on Sept. 10 in Dearborn.
There will be other talks, lectures and community conversations about the new terminal and the importance of the newly refurbished Metro Airport. But the most important date (get you calendars out) is Sept. 17 when the new North Terminal opens.
That's when a host of airlines not named Northwest will begin flying out of the terminal's 26 gates, leaving the old Smith Terminal in history's dust bin, awaiting a date with the wrecking ball.
The idea is to make Metro Airport, its six runways and 150 gates arguably the newest and most efficient airport in the world.
That's a designation that's going to drive a lot of business here, both big and small. Being able to fly anywhere in the world will make it easy for big corporate executives and small-time independent consultants alike to set up shop nearby and take advantage of the 17 different airlines who stop here.
Now if only they could get that Detroit-Metro-Ann Arbor commuter train line out of the station...
Source: Tony Haddad, spokesman for Metro Airport
Writer: Jon Zemke
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