Gary airport celebrates $12 million hangar opening

The tenant of the Gary/Chicago International Airport’s new $12 million hangar will help boost the city and Northwest Indiana, multiple speakers said Friday.

“Today is about more than a new hangar — it’s about new opportunities,” said Gary’s Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas. “This $12 million, 47,000-square-foot facility represents confidence in Gary, it represents confidence in Indiana, and it represents confidence in the future of this airport. It’s another visible sign that Gary is on the move.”

Wingtip Aviation, a Valparaiso-based company, will occupy the Gary airport’s newest hangar, which broke ground in June 2024. Airport officials say the investment expands aviation services, supports economic development and strengthens its role as a regional transportation hub.

The hangar will employ more than 20 workers, Dumas said, and more than 150 workers helped with its construction. Wingtip will also rely on Gary Jet Center and B. Coleman Aviation — both based at the airport — for fuel.

Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari said Wingtip met with the airport authority in 2024 to sign a long-term agreement to consolidate operations at the Gary location.

“They were at a smattering of airports throughout Chicagoland, and they saw the value in the Gary/Chicago International Airport,” Vicari said.

According to its website, Wingtip is a “fuel-service aviation management company” and operates long-range business jets.

Rob Herb, Wingtip’s director of client services, said Friday that the hangar opening represents a “significant investment” in the company and a long-term commitment to the airport and region.

“It’s providing the space and capabilities we need, and the infrastructure that we need to continue growing while also delivering the highest level of service to our discerning customers,” Herb said. “We believe the future is bright here for Wingtip Aviation and for the Gary/Chicago International Airport. We look forward to being part of that success for many years to come.”

Steve Mays, airport authority vice president, said the Wingtip hangar is just one of the facility’s recent successes. He referenced a 2015 runway expansion, which created the second longest runway in the Chicago region at 9,000 feet.

The airport is also expected to complete 900 international flights by the year’s end, Mays said. He also highlighted a 2020 deal with the United Parcel Service and expansion work for airport cargo, which he said will also benefit UPS. 

Mays said, for the hangar construction, the airport used local labor jobs, including through Gary-based Powers and Sons Construction. Kelly Baria, executive vice president for Powers and Sons, said the company was proud to give back to Gary.

Powers and Sons first partnered with the airport in 1982, Baria said, and the company has helped with construction projects since then.

“We’ve had the privilege of not only watching the Gary/Chicago International Airport grow over the years but also helping shape that growth,” Baria said. “We’ve watched it become an important gateway for business aviation, economic development and opportunity throughout Northwest Indiana. And we’re grateful to have played a small role in that journey.”

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, also spoke at Friday’s event, saying that the hangar opening is another example of Gary’s recent success. In Congress, he plans to continue advocating for funding for the Gary airport.

He wants the community to envision a better future for the airport, including one day getting passenger flights, which Mrvan said will be more convenient for Northwest Indiana residents than traveling to Chicago for commercial flights.

“I believe in Gary, Indiana,” Mrvan said. “I believe in Mayor (Eddie) Melton’s mission. I believe in the residents of Gary, who have withstood ups and downs but know we are on the economic rise.”