Gary Airport makes it easier than ever to move between countries

The Gary/Chicago International Airport welcomed its 500th international arrival in May. As the airport has grown, it has bought another airport, improved the runway, and added to existing buildings. 

If you look at the airport building for Customs and Border Protection, it has seen more aircraft from other countries since it opened in 2018. Last year, there were 58 aircraft. This year, there are 63. There are more and more flights every year.  

In a news release, airport manager Dan Vicari said, “This milestone shows that the airport is still appealing to a wide range of air travellers, including those from Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.” This brand-new flight is even more proof of how important GCIA is to Chicago’s one of the largest air service networks in the world. 

The airport is only 25 miles southeast of the Chicago Loop and has a customs building. The airport says this has helped attract international visitors because they don’t have to go anywhere else to clear customs. 

One of the two fixed-base operators at the airport is Lynn Eplawy’s Gary Jet Centre. She said, “Having a Customs facility gives us a substantial advantage in a sector that is always competitive.” It gives Gary Jet Centre more ways to help their customers travel when they are making their plans. In the past few years, we’ve mainly chosen to grow at GCIA because it’s simple to reach customers in other countries. This also makes us more appealing to people from other countries who want to fly with us. 

The Gary Jet Centre just opened a $5 million hangar and a $3 million station, and B. Coleman Aviation recently opened an airport for $9 million and a $5 million hangar. 

The owner of B. Coleman Aviation, John Girzadas, said, “The on-site facility is a huge benefit to our business-minded clients, who often choose an airline based on how quickly and easily it gets them to their final destination.” “Having a customs office on-site has been very helpful for B. Coleman Aviation because it has helped us reach new international markets and bring in business travellers from other countries.” 

In 2015, a $174 million piece of land was added to the airport to accommodate bigger aircraft. UPS will help the airport ship more goods in 2020 and buy Griffith-Merrillville Airport in 2023. When the Griffith-Merrillville Airport was bought, it was about 10 miles south in Lake County. At the time, airport officials said that letting smaller flights fly in and out of the airport would help GCIA grow.