With record growth, PBIA has big ideas for expansion, with car-rental center, third hotel

The skies over Palm Beach International Airport are busier than ever, but it’s on the ground where changes may be most evident in the future.

Some of them, like modest hikes in airport public parking rates and a multimillion issuance of bonds, could take effect this year. Others, such as construction of a third hotel and a large centralized car rental center near the airport, are conceptual and years away from taking flight.

The proposed changes outlined by Laura Beebe, airport director, at a recent workshop with the Palm Beach County Commission, were received enthusiastically, and the board cleared her to explore them further. She will need future board approval to enact any of the proposals.

“This is really fantastic,” Commissioner Marci Woodward said. “It’s more than I could have imagined.”