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Mobile Airport Authority Metro Airport System Planning and Relocation Feasibility Study

Mobile, AL

Mobile, Alabama, is a city steeped in 300 years of history—and is seen as a cultural center of the Gulf Coast, the port city is home to numerous art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional opera, and a professional ballet. But traveling into/out of Mobile Regional Airport has been a challenge, with passengers experiencing significant traffic bottlenecks. To address this challenge, the Mobile Airport Authority (MAA) turned to VHB’s aviation professionals for help.

VHB led a unique study to assess the feasibility of moving commercial passenger service from Mobile Regional Airport to Mobile Downtown Airport, which has more direct access to I-10 and downtown convention centers. The change would provide greater ease of access to airport facilities, especially with the new Mobile River Bridge being planned. It would also better capture the corresponding cruise ship passenger market near the Port of Mobile. Our study included significant local business stakeholder outreach, including coordination with newly built large-scale Walmart and Amazon distribution centers. The study also included traffic leakage assessments to nearby eastern and western competing airports, overall economic feasibility assessments, and preliminary airport facility planning to accommodate the potential move. VHB’s study was well-received by the client, as seen by this article, and has since formed the basis for MAA’s subsequent master plan.

Aerial view of Mobile skyline

Client

  • Mobile Airport Authority

Services

  • Aviation Planning & Design Services

  • Feasibility Study/Due Diligence

Cabstand in front of modern airport doors in Barcelona, cabrank with a lot of taxis near windowed facade of contemporary Airport terminal in Spain with road, long ceiling and parking
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