To whet the appetite of Tampa International travelers, the airport has released its first look at what the new Airside D terminal will bring them when it opens in 2028. The $1.5 billion project is the airport's first new terminal in almost 20 years, and while we have seen images of the exterior, the airport has unveiled new renderings of what awaits travelers when they get inside the building—and it's stunning! Worth waiting for The images of Tampa International Airport's Airside D tell their own story, but what is clear is that the new space will be a clean, modern and light-filled space that creates additional capacity as the airport expands.
Currently, Tampa International (TPA) serves an estimated 25 million passengers annually, but it needs the new terminal to handle projected growth of up to 35 million passengers by 2037. The new Airside D's design features include two levels plus a mezzanine with room for two airline lounges, providing guests with uninterrupted views of the airfield and the bay. On the first floor will be the International Passenger Arrival Processing Area, and there will be shopping and dining locations at the center of the Airside, offering 360-degree views of the gates, plus a shuttle system and guideway.
The design process is currently at 15%, so while these images are subject to change as that process evolves, they still give an excellent view of the concepts guiding the new terminal's look and feel. TPA Executive Vice President Smitha Radhakrishnan said the design phase is an iterative process fueled by thorough research and analysis and careful assessment of facility and operational needs in cooperation with airline, Federal and other partners. "We want this facility to be the premium traveler experience that TPA guests expect while prioritizing fiscal responsibility every step of the way.
" The route serves as a feeder route for the airline’s passengers from Tampa to greater Europe. Tampa International serves around 20 domestic and international airlines, including British Airways, Copa Airlines, Aeromexico , Cayman Airways, Air Canada, Edelweiss and Virgin Atlantic. Some US airlines operating at TPA include American Airlines, JetBlue, Breeze, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, Silver Airways and United Airlines.
The SkyTeam Alliance carrier inaugurated flights from Mexico City to Raleigh-Durham, Tampa Bay, and Washington D.C. on July 1st.
A big ticket item The new airside will be used for domestic and international flights and contain 16 gates. It will be located northwest of the airport's Main Terminal, encompass approximately 600,000 square feet, and has a preliminary cost estimate of $1.5 billion.
Like any project of this size, the costs tend to rise along the way, and the airport said Airside D had been impacted by an increase in the scope, size, and complexity of the building and aircraft ramp area, global inflation, supply chain challenges, and labor cost increases. The new facility will be paid for with a combination of funding sources, including Airport reserves, bonds and grants. TPA said the final designs are expected to be completed in 2025, although groundbreaking and the early stages of construction, such as site-enabling work, will commence later this year.
In June, the airport completed its 2022 Master Plan Update, which forecasts that by 2042, it will handle nearly 39 million passengers annually. To meet that demand, the study found the airport will likely need up to 22 additional aircraft gates (including the 16 from the new Airside D), 83 additional ticketing counters and three to four more baggage Claim carousels..
