Lannis Waters
Governor Rick Scott and County Commissioner Steven Abrams carry shovels to a groundbreaking ceremony at PBIA for a new Galaxy Aviation facility Wednesday morning, July 31, 2013.
WEST PALM BEACH — Seeing strong demand for parking spots for private jets, Galaxy Aviation will build a $10 million hangar at Palm Beach International Airport.
Gov. Rick Scott visited the airport this morning for a groundbreaking. The 65,000-square-foot hangar will have space for 15 to 20 private jets, and the companies that lease space there will employ about 50 workers, Scott said.
Galaxy Aviation, which sells fuel and maintains jets, leases more than a million square feet of land along the south edge of the airport. Business is booming, said Jonathan Miller, general manager at Galaxy Aviation.
“We’re over capacity right now,” Miller said.
Unlike the metal hangars common at the airport, the new hangar will be built of concrete. Galaxy Aviation touts the sturdy building as more hurricane-proof than other hangars.
The expansion reflects a bustling business for private jets at Palm Beach International Airport. Miller said it’s the nation’s second-busiest airport for private planes.
“You’re talking about a major general aviation market here,” Miller said. “People don’t realize it.”
The new hangar, scheduled to be completed next year, will include 15 office suites. TD Bank is providing construction financing of $6.8 million.
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