It won’t be long until the Greater Binghamton Airport's main terminal — and other parts of the facility — are completely transformed. 

“One of the cool things about Greater Binghamton and the area, not just here but at the airport, we’re on top of a hill and it’s beautiful. When you look out there, that’s something you want to see on a bright sunny day, even on a rainy day or a snowy day,” Greater Binghamton Airport Commissioner Mark Heffner said.

The terminal is just one aspect of $32 million in renovations coming over the next two years. The project will have a heavy focus on opening up the airport and making flyers feel more comfortable, from TSA checkpoints to waiting for their planes.

“You’re going to be able to see your plane here, there and down there. So we’re going to have three different sight lines that are really going to be wide-open and are going to be nice, because one thing about travel is the unknown. And that gets everybody. That gets them a little bit nervous, but when you can see what’s coming, it makes it a lot easier,” said Heefner.

For the past few years, BGM operated with just one flight a day, but that’s also changing.

Travis Christ of Avelo Air made the trip to Greater Binghamton this week to discuss the upcoming direct flights to Florida, set to begin in November.

“Air service is so important for the economies of any city, and when a new airline can come to town and come with really low fares for cities that historically have not had low fares, it can really change things in a very meaningful way,” said Christ, Avelo Airlines head of marketing.

That change in attitude has already begun.

The renovations to Greater Binghamton Airport aren’t exclusive to the inside of the airport.

“We’re going to to upgrade our entire parking system here, so it’ll be pay-on-foot, it’ll be easier to get in and get out, ease of access. Right now, one of the cool things we just started with the project is instead of getting a ticket, you can use your credit card. So you pull up, you swipe your credit card and that’s your ticket," said Heefner.

He has waited a long time for some good news, and said this was just the beginning.

“To be able to watch it to from the struggle to the success, we just have to keep that rolling. It’s like a snowball, or when it rains, it pours, what have you. We’re not done yet, one, and it’s finally good to see fruits of labor,” said Heefner.

Avelo Airlines will offer flights to and from Orlando and Fort Myers for just $79.