Oklahoma’s Weatherford Stafford Airport (KOJA) held the ribbon cutting of its newly constructed general aviation terminal yesterday. The $1.6 million project, which took 11 months to build, replaces the former terminal that was part of the Stafford Air and Space Museum and could no longer accommodate the increase in traffic to the airport. The 3,479-sq-ft facility is nearly three times larger than the previous one.

The terminal features a spacious lobby and passenger waiting area, a conference room with built-in multimedia capabilities, and a dedicated pilot lounge with after-hours access, and is decorated throughout with pieces from the adjacent museum. The design and siting of the terminal—which houses the airport-operated FBO—afford an unobstructed view to both ends of the runway, allowing visitors to enjoy watching landing and departing aircraft. Its proximity to the ramp also allows for closer and more efficient parking of transient aircraft. 

KOJA is responsible for $6.3 million in annual economic impact to the local community.

“Weatherford is a growing community because of its forward-thinking policies and prime location in western Oklahoma,” said keynote speaker Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), one of several legislators and state officials who attended the event. “The new terminal will empower economic development, support jobs, and grow workforce opportunities as it draws new businesses to the area for years to come.”