A rendering shows the updated concourse at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Ark. with a brighter, more open appearance following renovation efforts that are expected to be finished in fall 2017. (PRNewsFoto/Bill and Hillary Clinton Nation).
$20.6 million project to improve passenger comfort and convenience.
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. – Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, Arkansas has started a significant concourse renovation to improve the passenger experience at Arkansas' largest airport. This yearlong project will include amenities not often found at larger airports. It will also complement other improvements completed within the past three years.
"The airport is the first and last impression of our city and state," said Virgil L. Miller, Jr., chairman of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission. "We work hard to make a great impression by offering passengers the best airport experience through our facilities and conveniences."
Construction will occur primarily at night and during other off-peak travel times to minimize passenger inconvenience. In addition, airline gates will be temporarily relocated on an individual basis by carrier. Major construction will pause during the holiday season, which is the busiest time of the year for the airport, and resume in January.
"We conduct research on a regular basis that provides us with passenger feedback to guide efforts on what customers expect at their airport," said Ronald F. Mathieu, airport executive director. "The renovation has been designed around the traveler by including items to make their journey more enjoyable."
The renovation includes:
- Modernized concourse interior
- New gate seating with in-seat recharge for portable devices
- All seats will include both AC and USB recharge
- Enhancements to technology
- Even faster free Wi-Fi with added access points and speeds soaring above 100 megabits per second, per device
- Enhancements to technology
- Better cellular connectivity with installation of a distributed antenna system
- New heated and cooled jet bridges
- New arrival and departure monitors and visual paging
- Additional concourse restrooms (completed last year)
This project, which is a part of the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission's 2020 Vision Plan, follows renovations to the airport's ticket lobby, security checkpoint and baggage claim as well as a new in-line baggage screening system and parking guidance system. Passengers are noticing the improvements. The latest results from ongoing passenger satisfaction research conducted by Phoenix Marketing International show that 98% of passengers are satisfied with their experience at the Little Rock airport.
Including the current work, the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission has invested nearly $90 million in terminal enhancements during the past six years. The current project will be funded with passenger facility charges and airport retained earnings.
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