By: Chris Cheng
KILLEEN – Bell County's largest and fastest growing city is aiming high with a new expansion.
Soon many Killeen residents, like Terry Johnson, could make Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport their preferred travel hub.
"I am here to pick up my wife and daughter today and generally as best we can we try to fly out of here, hate getting on the road and to drive down to Austin," Johnson said.
The Killeen city counsel is expected hear motions on possible expansions to the airport at a hearing on Tuesday.
"We are going to make major improvements to the airport its going to be in excess of $8 million," Mayor Dan Corbin.
Some of those improvements include upgrades to the security and infrastructure system as well increases to their baggage handling capabilities.
Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport also plans to expand their flight service.
"We're expanding the holding facilities at the gate areas to make those larger and we are going to create some more space for rental car companies," adding "The improvements are certainly going to help us as we increase our capacity and increase the number of deplanements and to also handle larger planes," Mayor Corbin said.
Most travelers said the upgrades would be welcoming news.
"It will be an improvement and it's something citizens of this county Bell County, and the surrounding areas definitely would need," Johnson said.
So far, the three major airline companies have already promised to upgrade their planes.
"There will be no more prop planes. We've got a commitment from United, American and Delta to fly jets and that's great," Mayor Corbin said.
Great not only for the city but also those valued travelers.
"Considering Killeen is the largest city in Bell County and with the military environment being here people coming in and out I think it would be huge for the area," Johnson said.
Another plus the upgrades and expansions offer is they won't cost the taxpayer.
"Its going to be paid for by the TSA the FFA and the money we get from the airlines for passenger facility charges," Mayor Corbin said.
