Story ID: 
Avflight Breaks Ground in Grand Rapids
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: When completed next Spring, the FBO will become the second service provider at Gerald R. Ford International.
Word Count: 233
FBO chain operator Avflight has broken ground on its $6 million-plus FBO complex at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Avfuel sister company was selected earlier this year as the airport’s second service provider.

A ceremony yesterday, attended by company executives, airport authority board members, and local dignitaries, marked the beginning of work on the five-acre leasehold, which is expected to open in spring 2020.

“We are anxious to break ground on this new facility, and we are proud to see growth in general aviation at our airport as the demand for more options increases,” said airport president and CEO Tory Richardson, adding it generates more than $3.1 billion in economic output in West Michigan each year. “As our community grows, so does the need for air travel and services associated with air travel.”

The facility on the east side of the airport will include a 5,000-sq-ft terminal, a 30,000-sq-ft hangar capable of sheltering the latest big business jets, indoor car parking, and 1,650 sq ft of customizable tenant office space.

“Grand Rapids is one of Michigan’s flagship communities with so much to offer its businesses and visitors,” said Joe Meszaros, the company’s vice president of operations. “Our multimillion-dollar investment in this new complex reflects our long-term commitment to the region and confidence in our shared future at the airport."