ALPENA — The Alpena County Airport Committee on Thursday received an update on the new terminal under construction now, but was denied an update regarding the number of people who used the airport in September.

Enplanement numbers, which are usually released early in the month, have still not arrived, leaving airport staff and commissioners wondering how close last month will push them toward the 10,000 mark that qualifies the airport for a $1 million subsidy from the Federal Aviation Administration.

An enplanement is a paying customer who boards a plane in an airport.

Airport Manager Steve Smigelski said he has heard nothing from SkyWest Airlines on how many passengers boarded in Alpena last month, or what the annual total through September is. He said calls were made to attempt to get the numbers and the request was forwarded higher up the chain of command to see what, if any, issue there may be.

However, Smigelski said he believes September was another strong month, because the jets have been more than half full, which is considered good for a small air service in rural areas.

“The numbers have never been this late, as least as long as I’ve been here, and I’d like to be able to tell you how we did, but I can’t,” Smigelski said. “However, I am hopeful that it was a good month. There is rarely a day that goes by that we aren’t putting 30 people on a 50-seat aircraft. I’m expecting to see another strong month, numbers-wise.”

Airport consulting firm S&H employee Ryan Hall said construction of the new, $12 million terminal is in its final stage.

He said the project is more than 80% done, and a lot of cosmetic work is being done inside. Hall said that, if things continue as they are now, the project could be complete by the end of the year, and a ribbon-cutting event will be held on Jan.16.

“We have a few more weeks of masonry work to do, and the interior work is underway,” he said. “Tile should begin going into the restrooms next week, ceilings have been inserted, and light fixtures have been installed. We are at the point to where finishing touches are underway.”

Hall said the parking lot is still being constructed and will also be complete when airport operations move from the current terminal to the new one.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.