Atlantic City airport expansion opens

A $25.1 million, 75,000 square-foot expansion of Atlantic City International Airport officially opened Monday. State and local officials were on hand for the grand opening.

The project includes an expanded terminal, larger baggage claim, new passenger boarding bridges, and a federal inspection station for processing international flights. Despite its name, the airport has no scheduled international service. Currently, one commercial passenger carrier, Spirit Airlines, serves Atlantic City. AirTran Airways, acquired by Southwest Airlines in a merger, pulled out of Atlantic City in January.

"This project is our way of rolling out the red carpet to welcome international air service," said Sam Donelson, acting executive director of the South Jersey Transportation Authority.

- Linda Loyd