A sixth gate to ease congestion at Midland International Air and Space Port is among the improvements to the facility that the Midland City Council approved Feb. 1.
The gate is intended to ease congestion at the heavily used Gate 5, currently allotted to American Airlines.
The city council also approved funding for a new road to service anticipated commercial traffic generated by the addition of the new gate.
In addition, the council agreed to hire consultants to begin the process of creating a consolidated car-rental hub at the airport.
The new construction and upgrades will add on to existing improvement programs at the airport, which include current construction of the first of two planned new parking lots, which will accommodate between 200 and 300 vehicles.
At its Feb. 11 meeting, the City Council also approved funds for a maintenance program at the airport.