BERN TOWNSHIP, Pa.- A groundbreaking ceremony at Reading Regional Airport marks the start of one of the largest projects in the airport’s history.
Reading Regional Airport Director, Zackary Tempesco, says the start of construction on an approximately 20-million-dollar project that will bring three new hangars to the airport is a major step forward.
“At an airport, obviously we want more operations,” says Tempesco. “We want more fuel to sell to customers but when those new customers come in, it’s important for us to keep developing relationships because we want businesses to come in which then ultimately helps our community grow.”
The first hangar will be for current customer, Gaming and Leisure Properties Inc. It will be about 20,000 square feet and will also open up additional space.
The second, which is yet unleased, will be 12,000 square feet with additional office space and the third will be a fully pad-ready site with the ability to expand should additional funding become available.
Site work for all three of these hangars is currently underway. Two of the are expected to be fully completed by spring of 2027.
“Over the last three years we have seen growth,” says Berks County Commissioner, Christian Leinbach. “Growth in contracts with new customers like Net Jets, extending a contract with Quest Diagnostics and here today to have the groundbreaking for two brand new hangars.”
Officials say it’s important to the future of the airport.
“In 2021 the economic impact from the airport on the Berks County economy was $78 million dollars and that was five years ago without everything that has happened from then until now,” says Michael Rivera, a Berks County Commissioner. “So, I’m sure it’s over $80, $90 million dollars of economic impact that this airport has here in Berks County.”