New $3.5 million Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport terminal opens in Gallipolis

Gallia-Meigs Regional Airport in Gallipolis has completed a nearly $3.5 million terminal project, replacing the airport’s smaller facility from the 1960s and adding features for pilots and visitors.

Airport officials held a ribbon-cutting Thursday, July 16, 2026. Construction began in fall 2024, and the completed building is intended to improve the airport’s reception for visitors and private-business aircraft.

Terminal replaces 1960s-era facility

The new terminal replaces a building that had served the airport since the 1960s. The project adds a pilot shower and a new rotating beacon, providing an additional facility amenity for pilots and an updated visibility aid at the airport.

Airport manager Kaleb Arms said private businesses use the airport and described the new terminal as a way to improve their arrival experience. The approved report identifies private-business and general aviation use; it does not describe the building as a commercial passenger terminal.

That distinction matters for residents and local businesses evaluating what has changed. The project is a completed investment in a city-based regional aviation facility used by visitors, pilots and private-business aircraft. The source material does not provide a forecast for increased flights, visitors, passenger traffic or business activity.

Project was largely grant-funded

The project cost just under $3.5 million. Most of the funding came through grants, while local matching funds covered the remaining portion.

The available report does not identify the grant programs, the amounts supplied by each grant or the size of the local match. It also does not provide the terminal’s square footage or a specific economic-impact estimate.

Hoon Inc., a contractor based in Gallia County, built the terminal. The project’s construction timeline runs from its start in fall 2024 to the July 16 ribbon-cutting.

Fly-in and car show planned for Aug. 22

The airport’s next scheduled public milestone is a fly-in and car show on Aug. 22, 2026. Organizers plan to offer helicopter rides and plane rides, along with a free pancake breakfast.

The event is scheduled to follow the terminal’s ribbon-cutting and will provide a public opportunity to visit the airport and see the completed facility. No additional construction deadline or projected increase in airport activity was included in the approved report.

For Gallipolis, the ribbon-cutting marks the completion of a grant-supported capital project that updates an airport terminal dating to the 1960s. The new building adds a pilot shower and rotating beacon while supporting the airport’s stated role in receiving visitors and private-business aircraft.