Part 135 operator Wingtip Aviation has signed a 20 year lease with the airport authority at Gary/Chicago International airport (GCIA) for hangar space within a soon-to-be-built facility. Ground has been broken on the $12 million, 47,000sq ft aviation hangar and the anticipated opening is May 2025. Wingtip will consolidate all its operations there.

“Wingtip Aviation is thrilled to be taking off on our next adventure with GCIA, as we look forward to expanding operations here in a few, short months,” says owner Jeromy Montesano. “The combination of our full-service aviation management portfolio and the recently lengthened runway will increase the attraction for larger aircraft and enable future growth.”

This hangar is the latest in a series of substantial investments GCIA has made over the last decade, starting with the expansion of the airport's main runway in 2015 to nearly 9,000sq ft, making it the second longest runway in the region after O'Hare International airport. This expansion has allowed the airport to service larger, heavier aircraft. GCIA opened its US Customs and Border Protection facility addition in 2018, allowing air travellers from any international destination to frequent the airport without needing to clear customs elsewhere.

The hangar, to be constructed and operated by the airport, is supported with $1.3 million in funding through Governor Eric Holcomb's Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative grant programme.

“We are excited to welcome Wingtip Aviation to the Gary/Chicago International airport and are proud to see it has consolidated its operations in Gary,” says GCIA Authority secretary Millicent Macon. “This investment in GCIA's available hangar-space will provide the airport and Wingtip Aviation the opportunity to grow and further expand upon our air service offerings.”