Detroit Metropolitan Airport’s North Terminal to be named in honor of Wayne County Executive Warren Cleage Evans
Wayne County Airport Authority Board votes to rename terminal
DETROIT (June 16, 2021) – Today, the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) Board of Directors voted unanimously to rename the North Terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) in honor of Wayne County Executive Warren Cleage Evans. The terminal opened in 2008 to offer customers another world-class option at DTW and allowed for the retirement of the Smith and Berry terminals as passenger facilities. The North Terminal is named after its location on the DTW campus.
“Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans is known as a leader who gets results,” said WCAA Board Chair Marvin W. Beatty. “Mr. Evans has devoted his entire adult life to public service, personally and professionally. Not to mention, he has always been an advocate for our airport system, which is an economic engine and a job creator in our region. The WCAA Board is pleased Mr. Evans accepted our invitation to rename the North Terminal in his honor.”
“I have long felt the North Terminal should bear the name of Warren Cleage Evans,” said Wayne County Commissioner and WCAA Board Vice Chair Al Haidous. “I brought the motion to the board table today because Mr. Evans has worked hard and transformed our county. He has led Wayne County—the state’s largest—through dual health and economic crises and even restored fiscal responsibility following the Great Recession.”
“In recent years, we’ve worked hard to create a sense of place in our terminals, especially the North Terminal,” said WCAA Chief Executive Officer Chad Newton. “When customers walk through our doors, we want them to know they’re in Detroit’s airport. Our concessions program includes some of the most popular locally- and Michigan-based restaurants and shops. In the North Terminal, we also have 24 framed reproductions of works from the Detroit Institute of Arts. It only makes sense to name our terminal after Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans, a trailblazer and public servant. Mr. Evans has dedicated his career to making our county and our region a better place to live and work.”
“I am humbled and honored by the Wayne County Airport Authority Board’s action today,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “Wayne County is an international gateway because of its airports, and we have worked hard to make them an integral part of the county’s resurgence. Detroit Metro is a world-class airport, and together with Willow Run Airport our Aerotropolis is attracting investment from around the globe that is creating jobs for Wayne County residents.”
Evans assumed office as Wayne County Executive in January 2015. During his first term, Evans eliminated the county’s multi-million-dollar deficit, balanced the budget and ensured the county avoided bankruptcy. Since then, Wayne County has produced consecutive budget surpluses, earning repeated credit rating upgrades from Wall Street. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Evans’ commitment to the community has been undeniable. To date, the Evans Administration has delivered more than $90 million in relief to those affected by the pandemic, including direct aid for service workers, rent-burdened tenants, homeless veterans and small businesses. Prior to being elected county executive, Evans served in various leadership capacities including Wayne County Sheriff. Evans’ wife, Renata, played a critical role in helping DTW launch the Art in the Airport program in 2019.
The dedication ceremony honoring Wayne County Executive Evans will be held in Spring 2022. This will allow time for the Airport Authority to establish a process to phase out the North Terminal name, as well as plan a celebration fitting such an historic occasion.
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) serviced more than 14 million passengers in 2020, amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, DTW welcomed more than 36 million passengers. As one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs, DTW offers service from 12 scheduled passenger airlines. Michigan’s largest airport offers approximately 650 flights per day to and from more than 105 nonstop destinations on three continents. With two award-winning passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin Hotel, DTW is among the world’s most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport earned Airports Council International’s 2020 Airport Service Quality Award for Best Airport by Size and Region (25 to 40 million passengers per year in North America). DTW also received the highest score among mega airports in the J.D. Power 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction
Study of customers’ satisfaction with the airport they traveled through and scored the highest in the security check and terminal facilities factors. Visit jdpower.com/awards for details. DTW is operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport – an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility. The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations. Visit www.metroairport.com for more information