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In 2022, the Currituck County Regional Airport logged almost 15,000 operations—which include takeoffs, landings, go arounds, and low-elevation fly overs. The next year, that number skyrocketed to 25,000 operations. What is the source of this growth, and what’s coming for this rising airport?

William Nelson was hired as airport director in 2019. Prior to his arrival, there was only one other full-time employee, who was responsible for maintaining the grounds as well.

“With one employee, they’re not answering the calls,” Nelson said.

Pilots call ahead to see if an airport is open, if there is fuel available, or if cars are available to rent. “If someone doesn’t answer the phone, they go somewhere else,” he said.

“The phone number on the door [of the terminal building] rings my cell phone. I pick up 24/7. When I started picking up the phone all the time, [business] started picking up. People knew they could get what they needed.”

Currituck County Regional Airport, FAA identifier “ONX,” is one of 62 publicly owned airports in North Carolina, and one of 16 classified as a regional business class airport. It was built during WWII as a military installation, and a portion of the 5500 ft. runway is the original concrete. In the early 2000s, the runway was extended with asphalt.

The county, which owns the airport, has plans to extend the runway an additional 500 feet so larger jets can carry more fuel for international flights. (A heavier aircraft equals a longer runway needed.) This is just a small part of the plans coming to ONX.

The state has appropriated $4 million to the airport, thanks in part to the work of Senator Bobby Hanig and Representative Ed Goodwin, which will be used to build a 10-unit aircraft hangar, construct a new fuel farm, and provide the infrastructure for future projects.

The 10-unit hangar is the first of four planned in the next 10 years, plus a box hanger for larger aircraft. There is a nationwide shortage of airplane hangars. While they are a long-term investment, the county benefits far more than just in monthly rent payments. NC State data estimates that approximately $413,000 in ad valorem taxes (which are taxes paid on personal property like homes, vehicles, boats, etc.) are paid to the county annually from aircraft housed at Currituck County Regional Airport.

Estimated completion for the first hangar is summer of 2025. The airport currently has 57 based aircraft and it’s at max capacity. There is a waiting list about 60 people long, Nelson said. “The day we break ground on this 10-unit T-hangar I’ll sign leases for all of them. As soon as we build them we’ll fill them.”

The new fuel farm is undergoing construction currently and is expected to be completed by January. The current fueling station was built in the late 1980s and Nelson said it is time for a replacement.

“Over time those tanks break down and need maintenance,” he said. The new tanks will have greater capacity and be more reliable. The airport has seen a sharp increase in fuel purchase – from 80,000 gallons in 2018 to 125,000 gallons in 2022. The new fuel farm will also be moved to a more convenient location – at the back of the site of the new terminal building.

The terminal building is the main hub of the airport, with a waiting room, offices and a conference room. It offers visitors a place to use the restroom and grab a cup of coffee while they’re refueling or renting a car for their next destination. The current building is only 2000 square feet.

“There are days we see several hundred people coming in,” Nelson said. In the next five years, he hopes to see construction on a larger, more modern facility.

Even though the facilities are humble, Nelson goes the extra mile to serve his customers. Jet arrivals are greeted with a literal red carpet on the taxiway and friendly faces ready to unpack bags, refuel and help get travelers on their way.

He tells the story of a 14-person family arriving on a jet during Covid. They couldn’t fit all of their luggage in their rental cars, so Nelson and his team loaded up the airport pick-up truck with the bags and followed them to their vacation house.

“We’ll do whatever we can to make sure they have a great experience,” he said. “If they can’t get their luggage, they’re going to go somewhere else next time.”

Stories like these are not uncommon at Currituck County Regional Airport. Some reviewers refer to it as a hidden gem.

The airport offers several courtesy cars for pilots coming through for lunch, or for quick overnight stays. When cars aren’t available, it’s not uncommon for Nelson to drop a pilot off at his hotel and pick him back up the next morning for an early take-off.

It’s the commitment to go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction combined with its proximity to the Outer Banks beaches that has brought about so much growth to the Currituck airport.

Nelson estimates that about 75 percent of people who land at ONX are headed to Corolla, Corova or Duck. Though the Federation Aviation Identifier is not an acronym, Nelson explains it as “Outer Northern Banks.” He admits that most regional airports do not see the amount of traffic they Currituck does. “It’s strictly location,” he said. “We’re in the Outer Banks.”

If and when the Mid-Currituck Bridge is built, Nelson expects airport traffic to increase significantly, because it will be faster and easier to access the beaches from the airport. A 90-minute car ride will be shortened to just 30 minutes.

In the meantime, there is much activity at the airport with the recent agreement with Elizabeth City State University. The county gave them two lots, totaling about 10 acres, at Maple Commerce Park for 4,300 square feet of classroom space and 14,000 square feet of hangar space. The university now owns the land and will own and pay for the new structures. Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be completed in time for the 2025 fall semester.

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