SWO opens 31,000 square foot terminal, celebrates 10 years of commercial service

For travelers accustomed to driving to Oklahoma City or Tulsa to catch a flight, Stillwater Regional Airport Director Kellie Reed has a simple message: Take another look at what is available in your own backyard.

Stillwater Regional Airport’s new passenger terminal celebrated its official opening on the 10th anniversary of commercial air travel to Stillwater.

“This has been the project of a lifetime for me,” Reed said. “It has been an incredibly rewarding journey to support this terminal from the red dirt, up, and see it come to life step-by-step, and open on time for our community’s ability to connect to family, friends, business, education, training, adventure, and more.”

Mayor Will Joyce said the grand opening is a celebration of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision.

“An airport is more than a transportation facility; it is economic development infrastructure and a gateway for more possibilities and success for Stillwater and area businesses and growth,” Joyce said. "Commercial air service makes Stillwater more accessible to businesses, industries, university partners, healthcare providers, visitors, and families. This is a recruiting, economic development, and quality of life asset.”

U.S. Sen. James Lankford commended the university, city, state and federal government for cooperating to complete the project and give north-central Oklahoma another milestone.

“This is what government is supposed to do: find ways to cooperate together so that we can continue to advance as a people,” Lankford said. “What this airport means is businesses will look to be able to do greater investment here because they have the opportunity to have commercial air service in an airport like this that continues to be able to expand. That means salespeople come. That means researchers come. That means students come, and parents come in and out.

“... The multiplication that happens with an airport like this is significant, and it will only be seen in the decades ahead.”

Stillwater City Manager Brady Moore recognized the city staff, airport leadership, those involved in the construction and design and also American Airlines.

“This new terminal represents years of vision, investment and hard work by so many people. I want to thank the Stillwater City Council for believing in this project and providing the leadership to make it possible, and our city staff who brought their expertise and commitment to every phase of the project," Moore said. "I especially want to recognize Assistant City Manager Christy Cluck, Airport Director Kellie Reed and the entire airport team for their leadership, as well as the many city departments that contributed their time and expertise beyond their everyday responsibilities.

"We’re grateful to our community and the loyal passengers who continue to fly SWO, to Oklahoma State University President Hess and his team for a decade of partnership in supporting commercial air service, and to ODAA for its continued support. A project of this size takes countless decisions, countless hours and a lot of people working together. Today, we get to see the result of that collective effort — a new terminal that reflects the quality and future of Stillwater.”

‘For the next 50 years’

At more than 31,000 square feet, the new terminal is approximately three times the size of the airport’s existing facility, which dates to 1952. But the difference goes well beyond square footage.

The new building includes a passenger boarding bridge, expanded baggage claim, more seating, space for future airline and security expansion, nursing rooms, a wellness and sensory room, family restrooms, an animal relief area and numerous features intended to make travel easier for passengers of all ages and abilities.

Commercial air service began at Stillwater Regional Airport in 2016, but passengers had previously been operating out of a terminal built seven decades earlier. As commercial service grew, the airport added modular buildings for TSA screening and passenger seating.

The new terminal changes that.

Travelers will find more than double the passenger seating, charging stations, work tables and concession areas. Two airline ticket counter areas allow American Airlines to expand while providing space for another carrier in the future. The terminal also has room for a second TSA screening lane as passenger demand grows.

“The entire terminal is designed to support air service for the next 50 years,” Reed said. "Our new, world-class terminal has room to grow.”

OSU President Jim Hess agrees, stating that the impact of the new terminal is directly tied to the university's future success.

“This new terminal represents more than an investment in an airport; it’s an investment in the future of Stillwater and the opportunities we can create together,” Dr. Hess said. “For Oklahoma State University, this partnership helps us recruit and retain top students, faculty and researchers, strengthens our aviation program, and gives our students a place to learn, work and gain real-world experience as they prepare for careers in aviation. It also connects our Cowboy family to the world. We’re grateful for the partnership that makes all of this possible.”

One of the biggest changes is the airport’s first passenger boarding bridge. Instead of walking outside to board an aircraft, passengers will be able to move directly from the terminal to the plane under cover and protected from the heat, rain, ice and snow.

The new terminal also has a full circulating baggage carousel.

Thinking of comfort

A terminal vision committee helped shape a building intended to be welcoming and inclusive.

The new terminal includes two nursing rooms — one on the public side and another beyond security — as well as two accompanying family restrooms, each equipped with infant and adult changing tables. Hardened walls enable the primary restrooms to serve as a refuge during severe weather. The airport also includes a dedicated pet relief area with interior drainage and pet cleaning facilities.

Design elements also connect the terminal to the region. Terrazzo flooring incorporates tones inspired by Oklahoma red dirt, while colors and patterns throughout the building reference regional Native American culture and Red Dirt music.

The terminal also includes a charter lounge, which will serve OSU teams leaving for away competitions as well as visiting teams arriving in Stillwater. A mural designed by OSU Athletics gives the room a distinctive Cowboy identity.

When it is not being used for athletic travel, the lounge can accommodate community meetings, conferences and training events.

The convenience factor

For Reed, one of Stillwater Regional Airport’s greatest strengths remains something the new terminal enhances: convenience.

Travelers can avoid the long drive to a larger metropolitan airport, crowded parking facilities and often longer security lines. Traveling with children in strollers or with individuals with limited mobility is a very different experience at Stillwater’s terminal than at the major airports in Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

“It’s just a different experience here,” Reed said. “It’s low stress, quick and simple.”

American Airlines serves Stillwater passengers twice daily to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, offering connections to destinations worldwide.

While larger hubs offer more nonstop destinations, the airfare alone does not tell the entire story.

Travelers driving to Oklahoma City or Tulsa must also consider fuel, vehicle mileage, parking fees and the additional time required to drive an hour or more each way. Stillwater Regional Airport offers an online cost calculator to help travelers compare the full cost of flying locally with departing from Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

“When you incorporate your travel time, the wear and tear on a vehicle, gas and then parking costs, it is often cheaper to fly out of Stillwater,” Reed said.

Growing air service

The new terminal comes as Stillwater Regional Airport approaches the 10th anniversary of commercial air service. Still, Reed said the building alone will not determine the future of air travel in Stillwater. Passengers will.

The airport’s immediate priority is strengthening its existing American Airlines service. More passengers demonstrate that Stillwater is a market worth serving and provide airport officials with data they can use to advocate for additional destinations or expanded service.

“There’s a lot of local desire for other destinations,” Reed said. “But our first goal is to encourage the community to keep using the service we have and help make it stronger. When passengers demonstrate demand for unserved destinations, it gets an airline’s attention.”

Cristy Morrison, Visit Stillwater president and CEO, reminded the crowd that now it’s up to the community to “get to know SWO.”

“Visit Stillwater is proud to partner with the City of Stillwater to lead the marketing efforts for SWO, and we know the best way to market our airport is for all of us to be ambassadors,” Morrison said. “We’re all in this together. The success of SWO benefits our businesses, OSU, our community, and the entire region.”

Instead of beginning a trip with a long drive to another city, struggling to find parking, followed by a long walk to the terminal, TSA lines and another long walk to the gate, Reed wants passengers to realize their journey can begin in Stillwater.

“When we say fly SWO, it doesn’t just mean general aviation or flight training,” Reed said. “We have commercial service, and people can fly to DFW, and from there to anywhere in the world.”

Stillwater Regional Airport New Terminal

Story By: Shannon Rigsby | shannon.rigsby@okstate.edu