After nearly a year of work, the city had an opportunity to celebrate the opening of a major expansion of the airport’s 1950s-built passenger terminal.

Ogden Airport Director Brian Condie — ahead of the morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony — said building the terminal expansion represents a city moving forward.

“We all know, across the country, aviation’s taken a backseat in troubled times,” he said. “But this represents our focus on the future and that we can persevere and press forward with our vision of excellence in accomplishing things in tough times so that we can enjoy the future here.”

He added this will be huge for the region.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“This terminal is a statement of what we can accomplish when we work together as a community and we’re looking ahead for a bright future in aviation in Northern Utah led here at the Ogden Airport for the residents of Northern Utah,” he said.

Officials then cut the ribbon on the new terminal, accompanied by a flyover by a Czech-built L-39 Albatros.

Condie noted the biggest improvements to the terminal included upgrading the TSA checkpoint, building a new facade/entry area that includes indoor baggage claim and bumping the number of driving lanes out front from one to seven drive-thru lanes. Offices have also been added along with new seating. He also noted that some improvements are still under construction, including renovations to the restrooms, expected to be completed next month, and the baggage carrousel, which is expected to be installed in January. Additionally, a sign hanging near the vacant restaurant area — once home to The Bickering Sisters — heralded Aunt Mara’s Cafe “COMING IN HOT 2026.”

“I’m happy I get to see my vision turn into reality,” Condie told the Standard-Examiner. “This last year, I’ve been working with the FAA, the state, contractors, the City Council, the mayor. This is the vision we had last year and it’s very nice to see it come to fruition.”

Further along in the opening festivities Friday morning, Ogden City  Community and Economic Development Director Jared Johnson noted that there’s also a major nod to the past above everyone’s heads as they walk through the terminal.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“Right above me, we have these ‘OGDEN’ letters,” he said. “As we’re going through and doing these projects, we’re trying to recognize the past and to make sure that we are building upon that past and not trying to overwrite it or erase it but keep it and move forward with it. These letters above me … are the letters that used to be on the (ATC tower) that used to be on top of the building.”

He said the terminal building is only the beginning.

“This is the first of many projects,” he said. “It’s a new chapter for the Ogden airport and we’re looking forward to moving forward.”

Charlie Precourt, who consulted on the project, said the terminal expansion fits well into the airport’s mission of serving all of those who want to participate in local aviation and beyond.

“This is meant to be an executive airport that serves everyone from the small, private Cessna owner through jets like you just saw fly here that provide advanced training for the future airline pilots of this country to those who want to go across the street over here at Hill Air Force Base and join our military and serve in an aviation capacity to the flight schools that operate here to the brand new business of the AvFlight FBO that just moved in across the street and to the airlines,” he said. “We cover it all, and in about nine years when the Olympics hit those hills, this is the gateway to that operation.”

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said the airport is a gathering place for the community and those visiting it.

“This airport is a part of our community,” he said. “If you understand Ogden, you understand there are a lot of communities within our community. This airport is one of them. I’ve gotten to know that and learn that because I’ve spent time here. If you sit and you eat breakfast, or just have a cup of coffee, and watch the planes land and take off, there are people doing business here. Their livelihoods count on this place. And they connect here over coffee or over breakfast. It’s a community, you guys, and it’s very vibrant. A vibrant community deserves a vibrant place, a vibrant building, a vibrant space and we’re proud ot be able to provide that for us.”

He noted that tourism contributes to around 30% of the city’s total economy.

“We’re going to be welcoming tourists through this place,” he said. “They are the ones, coming from Disneyland, that get to visit ‘The Happiest Place on Earth.'”

Rep. Blake Moore said opportunities like the terminal expansion are necessary to take on as growth comes to the region.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

“It’s not just a neat opportunity to be able to take advantage of; it is required,” he said. “We have to be willing to take on the growth that’s naturally coming. This is a part of it, but this isn’t the end of it. We have to be willing to go in and make the investment so we can meet the need that we all know is coming. Today, we’re celebrating a big step in doing that.”

Also during the opening festivities, Sherry Traher, manager of brand experience for Breeze Airways, presented Nick and Tracey Yates of the Major Brent Taylor Foundation with 40,000 Breeze Points to use toward flights with the airline.

Currently, Ogden-Hinckley Airport is served solely by Breeze Airways with flights to and from Santa Ana, California, twice per week.