An aviation industry group projects a surge of air travel in the coming years, and one of Florida's largest airports is in the throes of getting ready.
Tampa International Airport, the largest airport in the Tampa Bay region, is expanding for the first time in 17 years. The $1.5 billion project includes a new terminal, more space for vehicles dropping off or picking up passengers, and an automated people mover.
Airports across the world are expanding and upgrading facilities as global passenger traffic is projected to more than double by 2053, according to Airports Council International, a trade association. In the United States and Canada, airport renovations and expansions are underway in Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto, among many other cities.
Passenger traffic could slow, however, "due to economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and airline capacity constraints," Montreal-based ACI said in a report.
"Demand stabilization and supply chain bottlenecks in aircraft production may temper growth, while in emerging markets, high infrastructure investment and rising middle-class travel demand will likely continue to drive expansion," ACI said.
At the Tampa airport, the Hillsborough County Airport Authority, along with its design and construction providers at HNTB, Gensler and Hensel Phelps, released new images this month of how the finished product is likely to appear. The final design is still in development, according to HNTB.
The 615,000-square-foot Airside Terminal D, located on the northwest side of the main concourse, is designed to have 16 gates anchored by Delta Air Lines, serving both domestic and international flights. Lounges on the terminal's upper level are set to have views of the runway and the Tampa Bay area.
"The terminal revolutionizes modern air travel by prioritizing both the passenger and employee experience through thoughtful design interventions that emphasize comfort, accessibility and efficiency," Gensler said in a project description.
The terminal's security checkpoint will be "defined by a warm wood ceiling and an open layout that seeks to set a calming tone for travelers," according to HNTB, while "sweeping rooflines and clerestory windows, which leverage daylight to guide passengers, [will draw] inspiration from the aquatic nature of Tampa."
The redesigned curbside area will "create a new set of express arrival and departure lanes for passengers who have no need for curbside services, ticketing or checking luggage," Hensel Phelps said in a project description.
Hensel Phelps is also renovating a loading dock, replacing a Federal Aviation Administration parking lot, building a new police and maintenance administration building, and demolishing the existing administration building.
A new automated people mover will connect the new terminal with existing terminals and the main concourse. The airport is also improving its baggage handling system.
Tampa International Airport served 12.1 million enplanements in 2024, making it the 27th-busiest in the U.S. and the fourth-busiest in Florida, according to the FAA.
For the record
HNTB is the lead design architect and architect of record. Gensler is the architect of the interior spaces at the new terminal. Hensel Phelps ithe s general contractor for the new terminal and is providing design-build services for the curbside expansion.