If you haven't been to the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport lately, you're in for a pleasant surprise.
Several improvements have been made, including new bathrooms, seating, a fresh coat of paint in the main lobby area and artwork in the main terminal.
"Dark blue, light blue and it will match our new logo outside. We think it looks pretty good," said Dan Dickten, director of aviation.
Dickten said the improvements were needed.
"Well it is very important when we are out there courting airlines that they know our facility looks good and will support their operations and we get away from that perception of this airport being the dark hole or the black hole," Dickten said.
The airport is trying to get additional passenger service and is working to add daily commuter flights between here and Cleveland.
And while many of the projects have already been completed, officials said they are planning even more improvements, including replacing air conditioner units and a jet bridge, paving the parking lot and enlarging the baggage claim area. They hope to have all the projects done by the end of 2012.
"The Western Reserve Port Authority has issued $3.6 million in bonds that will be used in the terminal to improve the area and usability," Dickten said.
Some of the improvements were paid with money collected from the passenger facility charges, which is a fee people pay when they purchase their airline ticket.
