Bitburg gas station to close Jan. 27

BITBURG BASE ANNEX, Germany -- Gas station lanes remain open on the base annex Jan. 8, 2014. The Bitburg gas station will cease operations Jan. 27 as part of the 52nd Fighter Wing's efforts to transition the annex back to the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Siekert / Released)

Bitburg gas station to close Jan. 27

BITBURG BASE ANNEX, Germany -- A sign advertising a pending is displayed at the annex's gas station Jan. 8, 2014. The gas station will cease operations Jan. 27 as part of the 52nd Fighter Wing's efforts to transition the annex back to the local community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexis Siekert / Released)

Bitburg gas station to close Jan. 27

Published Jan. 9, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Dylan Nuckolls
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Bitburg Annex gas station will cease operations Jan. 27, as the 52nd Fighter Wing continues with efforts to return the Bitburg Annex to the local national community.

The gas station on Spangdahlem Air Base has been and will remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the Saber community to use.

"These closures are never easy decisions and multiple factors go into making the final choice," said Col. David Julazadeh, 52nd Fighter Wing commander. "We believe that despite the inconvenience of closing the Bitburg gas station, this is the right decision as we approach the final years of the Spangdahlem Evolution."

In 2012, the facility averaged 100 customers per day. However, the number of patrons fell to less than 20 a day in 2013, according to Michael Ryan, general manager of Spangdahlem's Exchange.

In line with the Wing's plans to transition out of the annex, the Exchange invested $41 million in new facilities on Spangdahlem designed to serve both the Spangdahlem and Bitburg communities.

"The Exchange must maintain an operational structure that reflects shifting demographic patterns and the changing nature of the military stationed in the Europe of tomorrow," Ryan said. "This closure accomplishes those objectives and will better position AAFES Europe to support our Airmen, Soldiers, and their families in the future."