PULLMAN — The Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport celebrated the first day of its new terminal by handing out commemorative medallions to passengers.

The keepsakes were given out as a token of appreciation to the first of many who chose to fly Wednesday.

Services at the airport have officially transitioned to the newly built terminal. The last flight out of the old terminal was Tuesday afternoon, and Transportation Security Administration employees spent Tuesday evening moving equipment to prepare for the first flight at the new building early Wednesday morning.

The $92 million, multi-year project has come a long way. Moscow Mayor Art Bettge, Pullman Mayor Francis Benjamin and many city councilors were sure not to miss the occasion.

“Honestly, we’re thrilled over the top of what we have at the airport,” Benjamin said. “I really appreciate the vision of this airport and what it’s going to mean. … It gives us that expansion capacity. It’s nice the airport is designed not just for today but also for the future.”

Construction on the terminal started in 2022, but the airport had lots of work to do before the venture began.

A $158 million expanded runway was constructed in 2019 to allow Alaska Airlines Embraer 175 jets to replace Q400 turboprops, airport Executive Director Tony Bean said.

The new terminal is around 47,000 square feet. Benjamin said the facility is around six times larger than the former building. It’s equipped with new amenities that weren’t available at the old space.

It includes two bridges, with a third coming in the near future. Passengers are able to board without stepping outside. It also contains a baggage carousel spanning two floors.

The new building provides 426 parking spaces and 90 rental car spaces compared to 320 total at the other building. It offers additional features like a separate space for charter aircrafts, two-lane TSA screening, restaurant and adult beverage space, a service animal relief area, outside courtyard area with seating, a conference room and more restrooms, Benjamin added.

The airport board hasn’t decided what to do with the old building, but hopes it will become a space for cargo or charter flights, Airport Administration Cherri Gentry said.

She added two Seattle flights will land at the terminal every day in the summer. After Aug. 15, Seattle flights will grow to five or six a day and Boise flights will begin once a day.

Airport patrons seemed impressed by the new terminal. Many noted the facility was clean, organized and efficient, as well as much much larger than its counterpart.

Nick Lee, of Pullman, said he flew out of the former building many times, and the new location is a very different experience.

“It seems to be more on par with what you’d expect coming into a modern-day airport,” Lee said. “It’s very grand but still cozy at the same time.”

Natalie Talcott, of Moscow, said she had no idea about the new terminal until she pulled up to the old space and the doors were locked. She said she appreciates having a baggage claim area inside and a much larger space, though she didn’t mind the smaller facility.

David Wilson, of Genesee, said the airport will be nice for both Washington State University and the University of Idaho, and hopes to see more people coming into town. He added he flew at the former building plenty of times and is happy there are more places to sit while waiting for a flight.

Cole Hagopian and Willow Pratt, of San Diego, were flying with their cat, Missy. They said, while studying at Washington State University, they visit home often and are hoping the new terminal brings in more flights.

“The biggest issue we had with the old one is there were few flights,” Pratt said. “This one is definitely nice. It feels like a bigger city airport while the last one felt like a small town airport.... We’re hoping it brings more options to town.”

Aronn Rheinhart and Csilla Kelemen, of Seattle, said this was their first time flying into Pullman. Kelemen said they had flown into the old building a few days before and were now flying out of the new facility. They both said they liked the newer terminal because it’s clean, organized and efficient.

“Compared to other airports of this size,” Rheinhart said, “it’s up to the caliber of what I’d expect from a regional airport.… If we were flying back to the area I would look forward to coming to this one.”

Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com