Phase one of the new airport is here.

• Author: Miller, Derek

THE PANDEMIC HAS US longing for the days of leisure travel and recognizing the importance of an international airport in our hometown. The Salt Lake City International Airport expansion, due to open phase one this month, is a significant achievement of planning, engineering, and economic development. Completion will come in several years but this new phase will unlock greater opportunities for Salt Lake City and our state for decades to come.

While we are all feeling the lingering effects of the coronavirus, good things have developed in response to aid our future plans. Delta Air Lines, for one, developed the Delta CareStandard, a pledge to keep you safe from curb to baggage claim. One new innovative safety feature is their electrostatic machines that clean air and surfaces against multiple contaminated touches.

The new facility will also be more efficient and functionally flexible with the ability to grow well into the future. This will allow Salt Lake City to remain cost-efficient for airline operations. The continued partnership with Delta will offer us regional competitive advantages as this expansion cements our presence as a business destination, providing passengers with advanced operations and superior service.

Moreover, the local economic impact of the development project is staggering. The New SLC Project is expected to generate another $0.88 in the economy--through indirect and induced effects--for every $1 of initial expenditure. Furthermore, the project will contribute annually to supporting roughly 3,300 full-time jobs totaling $165 million in wages and income, $261 million to the GDP, and nearly $422 million in total economic output.

While these economic numbers are impressive, they are only one part of the project's anticipated impact. Airports generate business clusters through sector growth around industries, they facilitate foreign direct investment, and other additive benefits impacting the state and regional economy. Utah, a center for tourism and trade, can expect to see increases in these areas once the virus subsides. This will increase tax revenue and showcase our beautiful state.

In its design, all things were considered, including the objective to meet the highest environmental standards as acknowledged with the coveted LEED Gold certification, indicating the airport is as green as...