Steady expansion and improvement have been the hallmark of the Burlington International Airport in Vermont during the period covered in this article. The new Army National Guard base in the northwest corner of the airport is the latest in a series of physical ugrades made to this important air transport facility in northwestern New England. Within the past ten years the air passenger terminal has been the subject of a multi-staged modernization program that included a number of additional gates on the west wing of the building. The large multi-storey parking lot just to the south of the terminal building has nearly doubled in size, though overflow parking still occupies part of the local streets. The old air traffic control tower has been converted into an observation platform that is a delight to the traveling public as well as family members who come to see them off. One of the top scenic vistas in the state can be enjoyed from this location which offers an expansive view of both Mt. Mansfield and Camels Hump, the state's two highest mountains.
The advent of JetBlue Airlines at Burlington has been one of the most significant events to take place here in the New Millenium. The Airbus types operated by this airline are among the largest aircraft serving the passenger market here, with the Boeing 737s of United and US Airways the next largest. The DeHavilland Canada DHC-8 "Dash Eight" turboprop soldiers on, not only in the US Airways colors, but lately flying with Delta Commuter. The Continental ATR-42 turboprops are gone, as is the maintenance facility the serviced them on the southeast corner of the airport. American Eagle's ATR-42s and ERJ-135s are gone as well. Photo updates may be found HERE
