Grand Junction Regional Airport is a public airport three miles northeast of Grand Junction, in Mesa County, Colorado. Owned by the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority, it is the largest airport in western Colorado and third largest in the state, behind Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs Airport.Federal Aviation Administration records show 212,588 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, 228,850 in 2009 and 219,358 in 2010. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a primary commercial service airport (more than 10,000 enplanements per year).The airport opened in 1930 as Grand Junction Municipal Airport. In 1942 it was renamed Walker Field for Walter Walker, a former publisher of The Daily Sentinel newspaper who helped obtain funds and business support for the airport. The airport and the airport authority were renamed on May 15, 2007. Grand Junction Regional Airport is undergoing a $20 million renovation, of which $700,000 will pay for signs with the new name. The airport's terminal and fire building will continue to be named for Walker and a new $19 million roadway under construction will be called Walter Walker Blvd. Tailwind Concessions operates inside the terminal and provides passengers with delicious, healthy and interesting food and beverage choices. A new runway will be built 200 feet north of the existing one, with a target year of 2019. The present 10,501-foot runway will become a taxiway. Inside the terminal, there is a gift shop and TV monitors in the waiting area for passengers. The terminal has two gates with jet bridges for regional jets; one other gate uses outdoor airstairs. Allegiant and American Eagle flights use gate 3 while Delta uses gate 4. United uses gate 6 respectively.
