Tac Air Lexington Readies For Onslaught of Visitors to World Equestrian Games
/When equestrians, their horses and hundreds of thousands of visitors from 60 nations gallop into Kentucky for 16 days of championship events at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, TAC Air (KLEX) will be ready with a new $11 million terminal, 45,000 square feet of new hangar space and a triple WingPoints® Rewards Card promotion.
From September 25 to October 10, 2010, between 300,000 to 600,000 visitors are expected in Lexington during the World Equestrian Games – considered by many horse enthusiasts to be more important than the Summer Olympics. This will be the first time the global competition, held every four years since 1990, has been hosted outside Europe and many visitors will be flying in on private jets.
TAC Air LEX is the World Equestrian Games preferred provider of fixed base operations, said Kip Simanek, TAC Air LEX General Manager. The Phillips® 66 Aviation FBO is offering triple WingPoints for fuel purchases throughout the game’s 16-day event. WingPoints rewards can be immediately redeemed for gift cards or debit cards at wingpoints.com.
TAC Air’s new, executive terminal is the first the 13-location FBO chain has built from the ground up.
“The terminal features every service you would expect in a world-class FBO executive terminal – and then some,” Simanek said.
There is a high-definition movie theater, wireless printing from laptops and smartphones, showers, dividable passenger lobby with private VIP privacy areas a pilot lounge with private sleep rooms and even an art gallery featuring the works of Lexington-area artists.
The innovative terminal at TAC Air LEX complements the recently finished facelift and new runway given to Blue Grass Airport in time for the equestrian games.
In addition, TAC Air opened 45,000 square feet of new hangar space to support increased traffic during the games. Simanek said the hangar space would help TAC Air LEX draw traffic during other events, such as the Kentucky Derby.
Some $167 million could be generated by fans and riders attending the World Equestrian Games, according to an economic study commissioned by the WEG Foundation. Riders competing at the equestrian games go through a rigorous selection process during the four years preceding each championship. All told, some 800 athletes from 57 countries are coming to Lexington. Even the Royal Family of Dubai, its horses flown over in wide-body jets, will be riding in the event.
For more information about TAC Air LEX, please call 859-255-7724, or visit www.tacair.com/lex.