Albert Whitted Airport wraps up $4.5M project, prepares for more

The Albert Whitted Airport in St. Pete is undertaking new projects to help increase its capacity to handle more growth from its tenants.

The city-owned airport, which is known as the home of St. Pete Air, an avionics and charter flights operator, is redesigning runways and adding new hangars.

“We are in the midst of our master plan with shifting and building new runways so they could slightly accommodate a larger fleet,” said airport manager Richard Lesniak.

These projects are essential for the airport to keep up with the demand and continue to be an economic driver that supports jobs for over 660 residents. 

This month, the airport will wrap up the majority of work for its $4.5 million southwest hangar project where it added two new hangar structures, replaced two buildings and added a tie-down ramp.

The airport is also planning a $3.7 million project to rehab another runway, construct new taxiways, and update the lighting to LED lighting. The project is being funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration.

Meanwhile, longtime tenant St. Pete Air is planning to build a new 5,000 square-foot corporate hangar for its Pilatus aircraft.

St. Pete Air currently has two other hangars on the property. The company also does maintenance work and operates a flight school.

The new hangar would be located in the middle of the airport and close to a self-serving fuel facility.