The economic development committee of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority earned approval by the authority board on Tuesday to move forward with plans to transform the gate 6A area of the Hanover Township airport into an AeroClub Lounge sponsored by Clear Channel Airports of Allentown.

"We would invest the capital upfront, it's a way to get a little capital infused early," said Lucas Yezik, a representative from Clear Channel. The project, which would cost between $20,000 to $40,000, is in the final stages of approval at Clear Channel, said Yezik.

Clear Channel has been planning to spend that money anyway, he added.

If it gains final approval, the lounge could be completed and open for use by the first half of the year.

The authority has an existing relationship with Clear Channel and looked at creating an AeroClub Lounge as a way of expanding its ad space, said Charles Everett, executive director of the airport authority. This could very well be the Lehigh Valley Phantoms lounge or the Air Products lounge, Everett added.

Clear Channel would open up the lounge to a relationship with a hotel or restaurant for potential alcohol use, said Yezik. The space would offer free Wi-Fi, a flat screen TV, work spaces, ample seating, a color scheme that ties in with LVIA and a window with the LVIA logo that looks out at the tarmac, said Yezik.

"We've been talking about transforming this space," said Yezik. "It provides passenger service but could also generate advertising revenue."