Airport recommends hold on expansion

Monday, March 8, 1999 | 2:14 a.m.

Airport director Krys Bart on Monday said passenger counts at Reno-Tahoe International Airport are down and the airport cannot afford and does not need additional gates right now.

Planning to relocate the Air Guard began about 10 years ago. Bart said since then, estimated costs have jumped more than 60 percent from the original estimate of $50 million.

"Our budget today simply does not allow us to spend this amount," Bart said. "If we did, we would have no choice but to increase airline rates and charges."

Bart said an eventual increase in passenger totals is anticipated, though not at the rate initially forecast to warrant additional space.

archive