Special Report:

Petersburg’s Alaska Airline terminal is a busy place. Since 1998 departures from the facility have increased by 31 percent, from 34,376 to 49,521 in 2018.

Even infrequent travelers take note of the crowded terminal on heavy travel days.

Parking spaces expand along both sides of Haugen Drive and passengers and those transporting their guests move outside to escape the packed terminal. The trek between available parking spaces to the terminal grows longer.

While Alaska Airlines has expanded terminals in Kodiak, Cordova, Yakutat and Kotzebue, facilities in Nome, Petersburg, Wrangell, Barrow and D...