Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK) will receive $16.7 million in funding for infrastructure improvements. The Arkansas Legislature approved the request on Friday (August 23).
The improvements include the extension of runways and taxiways, allowing the airport to handle cargo and maintenance repair work. The improvements also make the airport ready to handle larger aircraft such as the Boeing 777.
The project was financed in part from state reserves and from a federal budget law into which the project was included by a regular resolution of Congress.
“Texarkana is the city I grew up in, and it has been great to see the entire region grow. As governor, I am proud to support one of the city’s most important projects, the Texarkana Regional Airport, and am excited to help bring more jobs and visitors to the area,” said Governor Sarah Sanders.
Additional funding was provided by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.), U.S. Representative Bruce Westerman (R-Hot Springs) and U.S. Representative Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas). Local sources support total improvements of over $100 million over the next three years.
“The infrastructure improvements made possible by these funds will create long-term, well-paying jobs,” said Paul Mehrlich, executive director of aviation for Texarkana Regional Airport. “This will not only benefit Texarkana, but the entire region.”
Mehrlich said the aerospace and defense industry in Camden, Arkansas, and the lithium industry near Magnolia, Arkansas, would benefit from the expansion efforts.
Texarkana Regional Airport will also build approximately 175,000 square feet of hangar space for an estimated $35 million, financed with bonds, and will free up sites for future development.
“Texarkana Regional Airport has the potential to become a major regional player in the national airspace system,” said Jerry Chism, director of the Arkansas Division of Aeronautics. “TXK will meet the growing need for air travel in the area. These improvements open up the opportunity for maintenance and the potential for additional airlines.”
In June 2024, Texarkana Regional Airport opened its new $49 million terminal, which is twice the size of the previous terminal built in 1960. The 37,000-square-foot Jim E. Yates Terminal features jetways, an additional gate with room for expansion, and an improved baggage handling system.
