Air travel is booming and there comes a point where you can’t serve more passengers unless you have more gates to accommodate more planes.
The numbers & what will happen
Case in point, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport saw 48.8 million travelers in 2023. That’s 4.5 million more people than in 2022, and 2.5 million more than 2019 (the last full pre-pandemic year).
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport handled 22.1 million passengers in 2023, which was 4.8% more than 2022 (2022 had been the airport’s busiest year in its history).
Not surprisingly, and probably in the nick of time, both airports have announced plans for new terminal spaces.
The new terminal spaces
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Kate Gallego, the Mayor of the City of Phoenix, announced late last month that the city council would begin working on plans to add a new terminal to the airport’s west side.
Gallego says the new terminal will feature “cutting-edge” technology and and will be designed to have net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. But she fully admits the new terminal is mainly to help with the airport’s growing pains.
“If you’ve walked through terminals 3 and 4 recently, there’s no doubt you’ve noticed how much busier they are than in past years,” the mayor said on April 22nd. “Soon we will need a new terminal to accommodate our future growth.”
The current two terminals collectively have 110 gates.
The new terminal will be discussed during a city council meeting on Tuesday, May 7th.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Meanwhile, 1,000 miles to the east, the City of Austin announced on April 22nd that they had a groundbreaking ceremony for their Checkpoint 3 expansion.
This expansion project focuses on increasing 75,000 square feet across 4 levels in the Barbara Jordan Terminal. It will also complete the second phase of the airport’s new Outbound Baggage Handling System.
The West Infill project will deliver new features and amenities to the terminal, including:
- 6–8 additional security lanes at TSA Checkpoint 3, streamlining the screening process and reducing wait times for travelers.
- Completion of the new Outbound Baggage Handling system which will increase capacity for checked luggage screening, ensuring efficient and timely processing of luggage.
- Expanded ticketing counters and kiosks to accommodate the growing number of passengers passing through the airport.
- Pursuit of an Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) 3-star rating, reflecting AUS’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
- New offices for AUS and TSA staff, providing improved working environments for airport personnel.
The project began in the fall of 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2026.
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