GulfPort Biloxi Coming Back

Left to right—Federal Aviation Administrator Marion Blakey, left, then Sen. Trent Lott, airport Director Bruce Frallic, and Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta

     Bruce Frallic, airport director Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport who saw the terrible devastation up close and personal when Hurricane Katrina hit the gateway located about 80 miles from New Orleans last August, was in New York City this week beating the drum for a resurgent airport saying GPT passenger loads had returned “to pre-Katrina levels and are expected to double within five years.
     "We are up and running, adding service at an airport that is simply a tool for economic development in the community.
     “Before Katrina, business travelers accounted for slightly more than half of the airport's passenger load.
     “That number has climbed to 95 percent after the hurricane.”
     Late last month U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta announced that Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport would receive $44 million in federal grant money to repair damage from Hurricane Katrina, the biggest airport grant of its kind in aviation history.
     Secretary Mineta said:
     "This grant won't just help repair, rebuild and revitalize this airport.
     “It will help bring new passengers, new business and new energy to this storied region."
     The August 29, 2005 hurricane caused an estimated $50 million to $60 million in damage to the airport, including its terminal, air cargo facility, a 44,000-square-foot hangar and airfield.
     The three-story Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport is currently served by four major airlines, has four existing gates and two, which were under construction at the time of Hurricane Katrina.
     Its structural system is a steel frame clad with gypsum wallboard partition over metal studs.
     There was no flooding in the terminal and no structural damage, although window breakage and roof damage caused extensive architectural damage to two of four gates.
     Some window breakage occurred in the air traffic control tower, but not at the level of the control room.
     There was extensive damage to exterior architectural finishes of the terminal.
     Baggage handling equipment was undamaged, and ticketing counters were undamaged.
The airport reopened to commercial flights on September 8 and returned to its normal volume of traffic by February.
     “Right now we are handling more daily flights than we did before the storm.
     “Those numbers will grow as new services come on line later this summer from Delta and Air Trans.”
     Bruce Frallic said he was at home the day Katrina hit.
     The manager who this year celebrates his 20th year at GPT recalled that although his home was high enough above the high water mark:
     “The eye wall just sat all around us for eight hours and caused all kinds of havoc.
     “The roofs were just blown away, ripped off of everything.
     “Our air cargo facility that was about to receive its first charter operations to and from Latin America was devastated.
     “We have a natural gateway for air cargo, much faster to market than Miami and a good deal less expensive and easier to operate from than New Orleans.
     “Our ability to handle perishables driven by Gulfport’s position as the top banana import point in North America, means that reefers abound both on and around the airport as does a fantasy of road, rail and deep water Gulf Port ocean facilities just a few miles from the field.”
     Bruce Frallic who served as a U.S. Marine helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War admits in many ways the airport cargo facility must start all over again, and the process to get back to cargo will take about two years.
     “Part of the money will bring GPT a brand new cargo center, the most up-to-date available, plus an all new ramp.
     “But the ramp-up, from announcement, to bids, to contract award, and then building will happen in the next 90 days.
     “The return in Biloxi has been amazing.
     Of the 12 casinos open before Katrina today three are in business doing 60% of the business that all 12 once did.
     “More casinos are opening this summer.”
     Meantime this week in New York it has been raining every day, as a sort of subtle reminder to people that once again the hurricane season has begun.
     The saying that “New Orleans got all the publicity and Biloxi got all the money,” bears some truth as word comes that hotel and residence building coupled with huge investment and tax breaks, are bringing to the Gulf Coast of U.S. the kind of building boom that recently has been reserved to places such as Dubai, UAE and Shanghai, China.
     Bruce Frallic, armed with a great big check to start over again building a great world aerial gateway, his way, will miss a “Picnic in the Park” with traditional Southern U.S. cuisine including red beans, rice and seafood.
     The Central Park extravaganza complete with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour is being held to say “Thank You, New York,” come Saturday (June 10).
     “I am going back home today (Thursday) and back to work,” Bruce Frallic said.
bfrallic@flygpt.org
(Geoffrey)