Big things are happening at CHO Airport. Our terminal improvement project is nearing its completion and our passengers are now able to take advantage of many of the new amenities being offered. These upgrades include things like new-and-improved restroom facilities, nursing lounges for mothers, a new retail shop, plus a new restaurant and bar area – with even more on the way in 2016! All of these improvements are being made with the travel experience of the passengers in mind. And in 2015, more passengers than ever before started enjoying these new features, as CHO Airport had its highest passenger traffic number of all time!

Nearly 550,000 (549,521 to be specific) arrivals and departures were recorded in 2015, which not only surpassed the previous record for passenger traffic achieved just the year before, but it also became the first time CHO Airport has ever served more than half a million passengers in one single year.  2015 also marked the third consecutive year of record-setting passenger traffic at CHO Airport! But the good news continues…

Digging a little bit deeper, CHO Airport has seen a whopping 63% increase in passenger traffic since 2008. That means that 211,584 more passengers were served at CHO Airport in 2015 versus 2008. With numbers like that, it should come as no surprise that CHO Airport serves as a major economic engine for this region, contributing more than $128 million in economic activity – and it does all of this without one single penny coming from local tax dollars. With higher numbers of passengers flying in and out, that economic impact will only continue to increase.

Of course, none of this would possible without you, the passenger. So all of us here at CHO Airport want to thank you for supporting and flying with your local airport, as we continue to go up, up, and away! We look forward to seeing all that 2016 has in store and we can’t wait for you to come along for the ride. Go CHO!

You’ve probably heard the news by now. Central Virginia is buckling up for what could be a snowstorm of mammoth proportions in the Friday – Saturday time frame. And while snow isn’t uncommon in this area, especially in the middle of January, snowfall totals that top one foot from a single storm are a bit unusual. This storm has the potential to do just that, while simultaneously creating travel conditions that are less than ideal (to say the least). So what does this mean for operations at CHO Airport? 

CHO Airport has a dedicated and hard-working snow removal team that does its best to keep the runway clear, in addition to all walkways, stairways, and parking lots on the airport property. Heavy-duty plows, snow blowers, and even good old-fashioned shovels are out working around the clock to aid in the removal of any wintry precipitation. But as the flakes continue to pile up and the winds begin to whip, what happens to flights that are scheduled to land and take off at CHO Airport?

The best advice is to remain in contact with your airline. The airlines ultimately make the decision of whether or not to cancel flights, so communication with your respective airline is critical to keeping you in the know. The last thing anybody wants is to be stuck at the airport for an extended period of time, so staying in contact with your airline can help keep you apprised of the latest flight information. All three of the airlines providing service for CHO Airport have issued travel alerts in advance of the storm to allow for flights to be rescheduled. Also keep in mind that this storm could have far-reaching impacts up and down the east coast, so be sure to follow the weather conditions in your connecting city. The weather in those connecting cities can have a ripple effect of delays and cancellations at other airports around the country.

Here’s a list of contact information for the airlines that provide service to CHO Airport:

Delta Air Lines:
Twitter: @DeltaAssist
Website: www.delta.com/talktous
Phone: 1-800-221-1212
Delta Air Lines Travel Alert

United Airlines:
Twitter: @united
Website: www.united.com/feedback
Phone: 1-800-864-8331
United Airlines Travel Alert

American Airlines:
Twitter: @AmericanAir
Website: www.aa.com
Phone: 1-800-433-7300
American Airlines Travel Alert

For weather updates in Charlottesville and central Virginia:

National Weather Service Forecast
www.newsplex.com/weather
www.nbc29.com/weather

As with any weather situation, the worst only lasts but so long and operations generally begin returning to normal once the flakes stop falling and the sunshine returns. For us, that is expected to happen sometime late Saturday, or into Sunday. To all those traveling, stay connected, stay informed, and stay safe. With these tips, you will be able to weather the storm and although it may be inconvenient at times, you will be best equipped to handle whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

New gift shop located upstairs

It’s an exciting time here at CHO Airport! Why’s that? Our terminal improvement project continues to chug right along, with the inside of the terminal changing almost as quickly as you can blink your eyes. Construction walls are going up and then coming down, revealing new features for you to take advantage of as you travel through CHO Airport! Improvements and upgrades are being made all throughout the terminal and even though this project is still several months from completion, the end results of several aspects of this construction can already be seen and enjoyed!

Turbo Grill

Over the summer, our new Turbo Grill restaurant opened its doors, offering hot meals and a bar for the first time ever at CHO Airport. At the Turbo Grill, an emphasis is placed on using local products whenever possible and that is reflected at their bar area, where you can sample a central Virginia craft beer or cider that was concocted just a few short miles away. A state-of-the-art exit lane replaced the old revolving door exit area that previously took passengers to baggage claim. New and improved restrooms are popping up left and right throughout the terminal.

New security checkpoint configuration

For the first time in this terminal’s history, the security checkpoint now has a new location, along with a new queueing area to provide more efficiency, especially during times of high passenger traffic. There’s also a brand new retail space upstairs, just immediately past the escalator. Stop by and pick up your favorite magazine, grab a quick snack, or get some souvenirs to take back home to your family and friends! Our exciting changes aren’t just limited to the inside of the terminal. You can also see changes outside, with the addition of a brand new overflow parking lot which recently opened up to accommodate extra vehicles, particularly during times of high traffic – like the holidays!

New overflow parking lot

But we’re not stopping there! Additional projects will continue to give the security checkpoint area more space over the next few months. Look for the addition of more renovated restrooms both before and after security screening. Later in 2016, be on the lookout for a new business lounge in the upstairs portion of the terminal! All of these changes are taking place to give you the most enjoyable and pleasant CHO Airport experience possible. We hope you like the changes and look forward to hearing your feedback as you check them out! Until then, pardon our dust and noise while you take advantage of the many new and exciting features that are now available here at CHO Airport! Happy holidays!