Temporary Solution: 3 Gates Opening Today at John Wayne

One of two temporary buildings will open today at John Wayne Airport to help serve travelers and airlines until six new gates can be added to the main terminal.

The modular structure, which has three passenger gates, is on the north side of the airport near the main terminal. Travelers will be able to reach the facility after clearing security checks.

Airport officials say the other temporary building will be on the south end of the terminal and is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving.

The two prefabricated structures, which cost a total of $1.1 million, will remain in place until the six permanent gates can be installed over the next three to five years. The airport has 14 permanent gates in the main terminal.

“With increased passenger levels, there have been bottlenecks in front of Gate 14,” said Justin McCusker, an airport spokesman. “We need more space to run our regional jets. This new terminal facility will bridge the time between planning and the completion of the six new gates.”

McCusker said the temporary building will serve American, Delta and Alaska airlines.

It has a capacity of 200 people and contains gates 14A, 14B and 14C. There is seating for 138 people as well as restrooms and food concessions.

John Wayne Airport handles more than 8 million passengers a year.

The airport is authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to accommodate 10.3 million passengers a year until 2011, when the cap increases to 10.8 million.

The limits were established last January, two years before a 1985 court settlement that set noise limits and growth restrictions was scheduled to expire.

The updated agreement, which expires in 2015, canceled the original cap of 8.4 million passengers but maintained the noise limits.