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Advancing Air Travel - Airport Expansions Take Off
Airport Growth Soars Across State
BY THOMAS EHLERS, Staff Writer
Growth is a key measure of success, and, in Florida, all the metrics are pointing to a bright future.
For the first time since 1957, the state is the fastest-growing state in the country. A population growth rate of 1.9% – coupled by tourism growth that led to a state record of 137.6 million travelers in 2022 – has helped create a booming travel industry in the state.
Today, tarmacs and terminals across Florida are being upgraded, renovated and expanded to deal with the rise in air traffic that results from the increase in travel.
Tampa International Airport is one of those airports.
The state’s third-largest city by population, Tampa sits in Hillsborough County, the state’s second fastest-growing county since 2012. Tampa International Airport (TPA) Vice President of Planning & Development Jeff Siddle and his colleagues took this into account when developing the airport’s current master plan.
“We’re seeing record growth here in Tampa Bay, with close to 140 people a day moving into the area,” Siddle said. “That shows how popular this region has become, but with that come the challenges of being able to meet the needs of all those residents with an airport that is able to serve them.”
TPA relied on its master plan to free up space in the main terminal and pursue a phased approach to alleviate key pressure points across the facility, allowing it to better accommodate an expected 39 million annual passengers in 2042, up from 23 million annual passengers today.
Phase 1, completed in 2018, helped decongest curbsides, roads and the main terminal. Phase 2, which is slated to finish in late 2024, expanded curbside service and developed around the rental car center, including a ninestory office building and express lanes for passengers who aren’t checking luggage.
Construction for Phase 3, consisting of a new 16-gate terminal to be known as Airside D, is set to begin in 2024.
The $787 million project includes a large, cutting-edge security area, modern concessions and retail spaces, spacious hold rooms and state-of-the-art technology boards.
“Our entire plan for Airside D has been to incorporate the latest technology and design methods to create a cutting-edge terminal that’s entirely unique to TPA and Tampa Bay,” Siddle said. “Airside D is truly going to be a marvel of modern travel that is well-planned and wellexecuted from start to finish.”
Throughout these expansion projects at TPA, the Tampa community and environment were top of mind, said Siddle. SkyCenter One, a Phase 2 project that finished ahead of schedule, is the first building in Tampa Bay to earn Platinum-level LEED certification, and TPA is in the process of switching its fleet to electric vehicles. With a community and passenger focus, TPA hopes to meet the needs of travelers from across the world.
“The passenger experience is always our priority here at TPA, and with more people using our airport, our operations and facilities must continue to change and grow to meet the high-quality expectations our guests have of us,” Siddle said.
From the North…
Panama City’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) now is ranked fourth in the nation for growth, posting a 58.2% capacity increase from 2019 to 2021.
The Bay County airport is capitalizing on the growth, undergoing expansion and renovation projects to improve efficiency and comfortability. The projects, approved in Dec. 2022, serve several facets of the air travel experience.
Its $3.5 million parking expansion project – which will create 500 new spaces for long-term, employee and cell phone lots – will raise the total parking capacity to 1,800 spots. Additionally, the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District approved a $3.3 million North Terminal Concourse buildout that will renovate 12,500 square feet of unfinished area to add passenger holding areas, public restrooms and concessions. A separate $8 million baggage handling expansion project will boost capacity by updating the make-up and handling areas in the terminal building.
“As the region continues to grow increasingly popular as a destination, the airport gains opportunities to expand its flight capabilities for our passengers,” said ECP Executive Director Parker W. McClellan Jr. “Our facilities and staff are dedicated to providing a premier flying experience and will continue to adapt to the growth each year.”
To the South…
Key West is as far south as you can go in the continental U.S., and Key West International Airport’s (KWIA) Concourse A project will allow more individuals to get there.
Expected to be completed in 2025, the $100 million project will add 50,000 square feet of space to be divided into gates, holdrooms, restrooms and support areas. The concourse will connect to the terminal by a pedestrian bridge, while an expanded security checkpoint will serve passengers with four lanes of service.
The project will use no local tax dollars, instead relying on Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant funds, bond proceeds, passenger facility charges and a number of other grants, alleviating potential constraints on taxpayers. It will feature windows on the structure’s south side, while the north will use a curtain wall system to allow natural light and transparency.
Due north from KWIA, the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is in the midst of its own $331 million expansion project.
Centered around improving TSA checkpoints and the overall passenger experience, RSW will convert three existing checkpoints into a single,
16-lane checkpoint while remodeling 164,000 square feet of terminal area. It will add 117,000 square feet of new space, including walkways to connect concourses and a pet relief area. Other project elements include a remote loading dock building, new finishes, advertising displays and an expansion of seating and concessions.
This expansion comes after RSW saw a record 10.3 million passengers in 2022, ranking in the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger travel. The project created hundreds of jobs, serving as the second-largest public works project in Lee County history.
“Southwest Florida International Airport is the front door to our community and supports travel, new business and tourism in our region,” said Lee County Board of Port Commissioners Chair Kevin Raune when commissioners approved the project. “We are pleased to start this essential project that will enhance infrastructure and manage growth while vastly improving the passenger experience at RSW.”
And Everywhere in Between
Orange County is the fastest-growing county in Florida, adding more than 250,000 residents from 2012 to 2022. Orlando International Airport (MCO) can certainly feel the effects of this growth.
“The growth in population, tourism and business here in Central Florida reflects a healthy regional economy, which, in turn, affects every aspect of Orlando International Airport,” said MCO Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Angela Starke.
MCO served 50 million passengers in 2022, and the airport is on track to handle more than 55 million in 2023. The recently completed Terminal C eases congestion in its main terminal, as the airport took future passenger projections into account in the design phase of the project.
“The Board of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is very sensitive to anticipated future growth and modifies plans to address such,” Starke said. “We are in the midst of updating our Strategic Plan, which will be the blueprint for the next 10-15 years.
“One way we will respond to future growth is to look at connectivity and expand transportation service for seamless connections. Additionally, the strategic plan becomes the basis for our master plan updates, as well as future modifications to our Capital Improvement Plan.”
Terminal C can hold up to 20 aircraft at 15 gates, accommodating 10 million additional passengers since its opening in September 2022. It features facial recognition technology for faster and more secure boarding, automated bin returns in the security area and a state-of-the-art baggage handling system to ensure efficient tracking.
Mega-digital display walls cover the terminal, including a 30-foot-tall “Moment Vault” that showcases Central Florida scenes on a 360-degree canvas.
In addition to the 23 concession areas, Terminal C was built with expansion in mind. In fact, MCO recently started an expansion project on the terminal that will add eight gates. Additionally, MCO recently approved funding for a pedestrian bridge that will connect Terminal C to the main terminal and other parts of the airport. There are plans for a future 16-24 gate expansion project – or even a Terminal D – in due time.
Beyond welcoming in more flights, MCO is creating a multi-modal hub to serve passengers in the growing Orange County area. The airport’s Terminal Link Station gives access to two current regional rail systems, while ground vehicles have ample access to the airport and its services. MCO is the only airport in the country with an intercity high-speed passenger rail station – bringing mobility throughout the region with trains, planes and automobiles – Starke said.
“MCO is also one of the region’s major economic generators with a close to $42 billion impact,” Starke said. “The greatest opportunity is that we continue to be a vibrant part of Central Florida’s economy, and we can help support this growth by being the transportation hub we aspire to be.”
