"We raised the ceiling so there is more volume," said airport manager John Parrott. "And the difference in volume is very evident if you remember what the old one looked like."

The public got a sneak peak, Sunday, at the new artwork featured throughout the new A and B concourses. The project came in about $12 million dollars under budget but still set the state back about $200 million.

This all comes at a time when the airport is seeing a big hit in its air traffic. Earlier this year, cargo through Ted Stevens Intl. was down almost 30 percent. But even so, airport officials say they can still afford all of the fancy improvements.

"The money will be sustained in that the airlines underwrite the airport's budget," Parrott said.