b'OPERATIONSSTL 51In subsequent years, Southwest Airlines, which operates out of Terminal 2, increased its presence and other ultra low-cost carriers began showing interest in the Midwest airport,Hamm-Niebruegge says. Southwest has been a strong partner here in recent years and continues to grow. In addition, legacy carriers like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airlines increased service and upgraded the aircraft that serve STL. In 2018, the airport recovered to more than 15 million passengers. That growth drove the need to assess the condition and functionality of STLs facilities, to ensure the airport could meet current and future demand. Comprehensive EvaluationIn early 2020, the airport and consultant WSP started the process of updating STLs Airport Layout Plan. However, it was soon determined that based on the condition of existing facilities and passenger forecasts, a comprehensive master plan update with more campus-wide improvements was more prudent. We had to take stock of the airport and make sure that were in a position to meet the forecasted demand, Beckmann says.John van Woensel, a senior vice president at WSP, notes that the airports terminals, roadways and utility infrastructure have been maintained extremely well, but they have many shortfalls and issues that affect operations. A facility condition assessment with repair/replace analysis provides a clear picture of the associated costs and risks. When youJOHN van WOENSELhave such an old infrastructure, maintaining it requires quite a bit of investment, he says. We could actually point to the dollars and cents associated with it. After a comprehensive survey of current conditions, WSP A lot has changed since STLs last masterevaluated various alternatives, considering STLs long-term plan update in 2012. Deputy Director Geralddemand as well as short- and mid-term needs. Beckmann explains that the airport wasTo assess the current condition of the facilities and future needs, bursting at the seams in the early 2000s, andthe airport team and WSP conducted a blank slate analysis. It then the landscape changed dramaticallyresulted in more than 20 different possible terminal configurations with the exodus of TWA in December 2001for more efficient and functional operations.and declining activity from American AirlinesOur guidance to WSP was to look at everything, explains after the great recession. Our region hasGERALD BECKMANN Hamm-Niebruegge. She considers remaining open to all gone through a lot, he adds. This was apossibilities critically important for effective master planning. significant hub for TWA and American. Weve gone through a lot of transformations here.Community and stakeholder engagement have been crucial City administration, which oversees operations at STL,through the entire process, Beckmann adds. That included considered joining FAAs Airport Investment Partnership Programforming a technical advisory committee, meetings with business (formerly known as the Airport Privatization Pilot Program), whichand industry groups, performing online public surveys and holding would have included even more change for STL. When the citya public open house. Two large-scale surveys of the community wanted to look at the privatization process, it did throw a lot ofreceived thousands of responses, he reports. I think we were uncertainty into the scheme of things, Beckmann recalls. Thatreally thorough in that sense. effort was abandoned in 2019. Over a two-year period, the technical advisory committeeTerminal 1, constructed in 1956, received a refresh in 2010,made up of airline partners, airport tenants and airport staffwhich mostly involved cosmetic changes. After a tornadofocused on the challenges facing STL and coming up with the best destroyed some of that work in April 2011, another refurbishmentsolutions. It really was a partnering effort, says Beckmann. project rebuilt and refreshed what had been damaged. The twoFor starters, the airport was designed and constructed before terminals total 1.4 million square feet and 46 gates.current security checkpoint requirements, and is consequently in AirportImprovement.comJanuary | February 2024'