Detroit's long underused city-owned airport broke ground Wednesday on a new national headquarters for helicopter touring company, marking the first new commercial development at the facility in 60 years, according to city officials. MyFlight Tours is building a $4 million, 12,000 square-foot headquarters at the Coleman A. Young International Airport, 11499 Conner Street, on the city's east side. The helicopter touring company has operated out of the airport since 2019. "We now have a national headquarters from a five-state company," said Mayor Mike Duggan, speaking at a ceremonial groundbreaking at the airport. The airport, which dates back to the 1930s, stopped regular commercial service when Southwest Airlines pulled out in 1993. It has remained in operation for corporate and private aviation, among other uses, but its fate has been in doubt over the years. MyFlight's expansion is what city officials contend is among several major investments that will revive the facility. In 2023, the city secured approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, to institute a 20-year airport development and strategy design plan. The city recently completed a $350,000 LED taxi lighting upgrade and $3.5 million runway renovation, and other upgrades are planned. Construction of a new control tower begins in 2026, Duggan pointed out. "Before spring's over, there's going to be another groundbreaking of another corporate hangover for jets," Duggan said. "This airport has a very bright future." MyFlight founders Sergio and Cassandra Troiani both praised city officials for their support of their company over the years. "We had one helicopter in 2019," Sergio said, when he approached Jason Watt, the airport director. But Watt made the couple feel welcome, Sergio said. The company now offers tours seven days a week from City Airport. Aside from Detroit, it operates in six other cities across the south, east and Midwest, including Baltimore, Milwaukee and Philadelphia. "We wouldn't be here without the people who believed in us," he said. laguilar@detroitnews.com Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here. This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit's city-owned airport lands first new commercial development in 60 years

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