Ten large airports were nominated by an expert panel and voted on by readers of USA TODAY. TPA was recognized for its wide selection of nonstop destinations, excellent amenities and top-notch concessions.

TPA was also recognized as Best Airport for Art and Best Airport for Dining, with two of the airport’s restaurants earning their own 10Best honors. Cigar City Brewing was named one of the top 10 Airport Sit-Down Restaurants, while Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria was recognized in the Grab-and-Go Food category. These awards highlight TPA’s concessions program, which features a range of local favorites such as the Columbia Restaurant, Ulele, Goody Goody and Café by Mise en Place.

For the second time, TPA was named Best Airport for Art, surpassing competitors including Nashville (BNA), Denver (DEN) and Salt Lake City (SLC). TPA’s public art program is widely regarded as a benchmark for airports nationwide, with notable works including HOME by Matthew Mazzotta, a 21-foot-tall flamingo affectionately known as Phoebe; Copper Birds by Roy Butler, located inside Airside A; Final Boarding Call by Christopher Still at Airside C; and n + 1 by Ralph Helmick, displayed at the SkyConnect station in the Main Terminal.

Visitors to TPA can also discover Palimpsest by Nick Cave in the Airport’s Rental Car Center, along with three new additions to the art collection near the new Red Express Curbsides: Starfish Family | Dancing Algae by Claudia Comte, Cloud Ascent by Jason Bruges and On Memory and Plants by Janaina Tschäpe.

The 10BEST Awards come on the heels of another major honor last month when Tampa International Airport was named #1 in Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports in the JD Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study^SM, a leading industry analytics report measuring traveler sentiment.

TPA received the highest score among large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year) in the study of traveler satisfaction with North American Airports. This third award comes after TPA topped the rankings in 2022 and 2023, and came in second in both 2024 and 2025.

And as if all that weren’t enough, in August, Tampa International Airport was also named Best Family-Friendly Airport in America by WhereverFamily.com. The Wherever Awards are based on the results of an open-ended reader survey, with the winners announced in a fall edition of Global Traveler magazine.

Congratulations to the 10,000-plus TPA-based employees who work day in and day out to keep America’s Favorite Airport consistently among the top-rated airports in the world.

The campaign is designed to remind travelers that escalators can become hazardous when guests are distracted or overloaded. Bags can shift, strollers can become difficult to control, and a momentary loss of balance can lead to a fall or cause luggage to slide down the escalator and injure someone else.

“Our mantra is, if they’ve got wheels, you should probably be using the elevator instead of the escalator,” said Chris Reyes, Senior Manager of Risk and Insurance at Tampa International Airport. “We just want our guests to be safe.”

Reyes said the effort builds on a successful safety campaign from last year where Airport guests were warned not to take their pets on escalators which can lead to accidental falls for humans and injured paws for their furry friends.

The initiative is a multi-pronged effort that includes safety signage, overhead announcements and guest experience volunteers positioned near escalators to help direct travelers with luggage or strollers to elevators.

The campaign also includes a Public Service Announcement produced to alert everyone of the potential risks.

“The issue isn’t just your individual safety, it’s the safety of others,” Reyes said. “You may be able to get on and feel strong and confident, but if something happens and that luggage goes flying down the escalator, it can hurt someone else.”

The campaign also emphasizes that elevators are not only safer in these situations, but just as convenient.

“We want the general public to know it’s just as fast and safe to use the elevators as it is the escalators,” Reyes said.

Ultimately, the goal of Risk Awareness Week is to strengthen TPA’s culture of safety and ensure every guest reaches their destination securely.

This service will be the first time that an airline has offered flights throughout the entire year to the capital of the Dominican Republic.

Flights are scheduled to begin June 18, 2027. Breeze will operate the new route twice per week on Fridays and Mondays aboard an Airbus A220-300 aircraft. With the addition of SDQ, this will be Breeze's sixth international destination from America's Favorite Airport.

“What a thrill it has been to watch Breeze's rapid growth at TPA," TPA Director of Air Service Development Alex Heiter said. “By adding another international nonstop flight, the airline continues to increase its commitment to TPA and will soon offer Tampa Bay travelers another easy way to reach the Dominican Republic.”

“We continue to see great demand for our high-value, low-cost model in Tampa, and our continued growth there is an example of just that,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ founder and CEO. “This new travel option to Santo Domingo will give Tampa another option to come fly Breeze when they want to take that next trip.”

Of note, Santo Domingo will be the second Dominican Republic destination that Breeze has launched this year from Tampa International Airport. The airline began nonstop service to Punta Cana (PUJ) on July 2, 2026.

The new route's schedule:

Tickets to Santo Domingo are on sale now. Go to www.flybreeze.com to purchase tickets.

To celebrate this milestone, TPA served up custom cupcakes and gave away special luggage tags for travelers aboard the inaugural flight.

Flights from TPA to San Jose are currently offered twice each week on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

"Adding nonstop service to Costa Rica is a milestone we've been working toward for years, and now it's finally a reality," said Alex Heiter, TPA Director of Air Service Development. “This route connects the Tampa Bay community to a popular vacation destination, strengthens our business ties with a vibrant trade partner, and gives our travelers an easy way to reach friends and family in Central America.”

This new route reflects strong ties between Tampa Bay and Costa Rica. Each day, about 134 people travel between TPA and the Central American nation. This new nonstop flight will make a lengthy journey into a much shorter trip.

San Jose is one of many international destinations that Breeze has (or will soon offer) at TPA.

Earlier this year, the airline launched nonstop flights from TPA to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Nassau, the Bahamas. Breeze plans to offer two more international routes by the end of 2026, with service to Cancun, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, set to begin in December.

By the end of 2026, Breeze will provide travelers with nearly 40 total nonstop destinations from America's Favorite Airport.

To book your next trip to Costa Rica with Breeze, visit: https://www.flybreeze.com/home.

Tampa International Airport travelers will notice plenty of behind-the-scenes work on the Main Terminal’s first floor these days, as construction crews work to replace elements of the checked baggage system.

Construction walls are currently blocking some baggage carousels on the Red Bag Claim as workers install new catwalks and conveyor belts above the ceiling line. The equipment being replaced comprises the conveyor belt network that moves bags from ticket counters in the Main Terminal to the correct aircraft before a flight.

It’s part of a broader project to centralize security screening into the Main Terminal, consolidate the baggage transport infrastructure, and add Airside D to the system in time for the terminal’s scheduled opening in 2029. That’s the same year a modernization of the second-floor Ticketing Level, currently in the design phase, is scheduled to be complete.

“We’re taking the first step in upgrading our entire baggage system, which we need to accommodate the major growth we’re experiencing at TPA,” Airport Construction Director Dan Seeley said. “This new baggage conveyor system is going to provide added efficiency and functionality that will allow us to handle the necessary volume for the increase in passengers we are expecting.”

Along with installing roughly 25,000 feet of new conveyor belts and the catwalks, TPA will be replacing the checked baggage system with what is known as a cross-belt sorter, a relatively new technology in the United States.

This brand-new system will work with the conveyor belt system to provide the flexibility to deliver a bag from any ticket counter to any Airside terminal, a function the current system is unable to perform. It also will allow TPA to install a new system in the existing baggage processing space while the old one continues to operate.

The existing baggage system was certified in 2005 to comply with Homeland Security requirements, making it one of the first airports in the country to do so after the events of September 11, 2001. While some additions and upgrades have been implemented over the last decade, the majority of the baggage system is original to 2005.

Travelers can expect to see work on the system above a pair of baggage carousels at a time. Once a section of equipment is installed overhead, workers will replace the ceiling and signage (which was renovated in 2024) and move on to the next pair of carousels.

The baggage claim project will be completed in phases, with the first phase complete in order to serve the new Airside D in 2029.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved $298.6 million to upgrade the checked baggage system at its September 2025 meeting as part of the Airport’s capital budget.

Tampa International Airport will welcome its first-ever Dunkin' location, scheduled to open later in October. This new addition to TPA's Concessions offerings will be located on the south end of the Rental Car Center, near Remote Bag Check.

Dunkin' is known for its coffee and donuts, and the new TPA location will open with those fan favorites. Grab-and-go items, like sandwiches and salads, will also be available nearby at an extension of The Beach Market.

“We're thrilled to bring Dunkin' to Tampa International Airport,” TPA Director of Airport Concessions Stacey Nance said. “This is a high-demand national brand and exactly the kind of amenity our travelers have told us they're looking for at America's Favorite Airport.”

Whether picking up a rental car on arrival or dropping one off before a flight, TPA's travelers will soon have another convenient way to fuel up.

Tampa International Airport is putting the finishing touches on a new project designed for a (very) rainy day.

The Airport is wrapping up work that enables TPA to put up a temporary, 9-foot AquaFence system to protect two electrical vault buildings from flooding in case a hurricane threatens the region.

The pair of buildings, which sit next to Tampa Fire and Rescue’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station near Airside A, house the equipment that powers the airfield lighting system.

Airfield lighting is vital to keeping aircraft moving, especially after dark, and will be necessary to assist the region with recovery efforts. It also would help prevent costly repairs that would likely result from water intrusion or inundation.

The two electrical vaults are susceptible to flooding that would potentially occur from storm surge during a Category 3 hurricane or higher. The barrier panels would be erected in the event of a storm threatening Tampa Bay and stored safely the rest of the time.

“Tampa International Airport has faced the threats of hurricane season time and again, and the installation of this AquaFence system is a forward-thinking resilience solution to protect some of our most critical assets from storm surge,” TPA Chief Development Officer Smitha Radhakrishnan said. “While we hope to avoid the need to deploy this barrier, TPA’s role as vital infrastructure to the Tampa Bay region underscores why we must prioritize our operational resilience from such extreme climatic events.”

The project includes foundations for the barrier; electrical and drainage improvements; fencing; and pumps to help keep water away from the buildings – even with the AquaFence keeping storm surge out, the pumps will divert heavy rainfall out of the protected area.

The 150 separate Clima Armour FloodWall panels that comprise the barrier system are made of steel, aluminum and laminated plywood, with UV-resistant and waterproof plastic membranes and gaskets that seal water out. They will snap together and be strapped to anchors in the concrete in advance of stormy weather.

The nine-foot barrier is the maximum height that manufacturer AquaFence makes.

“Flood protection should never be reactionary. True resilience comes from understanding your vulnerabilities and putting the right protections in place before a storm is on the horizon,” said Patrik Hansson, President of AquaFence. “Tampa International Airport is demonstrating that foresight by protecting critical infrastructure that keeps the airport running. After a major storm, restoring airport operations is vital to regional recovery. This investment adds another layer of protection to help TPA stay operational or quickly get back up and running when the community needs it most.”

The panels will stay in storage at TPA until needed, with a target to put them into place around the vaults by a contracted emergency response team at least 48 hours in advance of severe weather.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board selected construction company H.L. Pruitt Corp. as the contractor at its August 2025 meeting. The total cost of the work and materials is $1.9 million and is part of the Airport’s Capital Budget.

Click on an image below to enlarge or download it:

Tampa International Airport has been named #1 in Customer Satisfaction for Large Airports for the third time in the JD Power 2026 North America Airport Satisfaction Study^SM, a leading industry analytics report measuring traveler sentiment.

TPA received the highest score among large airports (10 to 32.9 million passengers per year) in the study of traveler satisfaction with North American Airports. This third award comes after TPA topped the rankings in 2022 and 2023, and came in second in both 2024 and 2025.

“Tampa International Airport is incredibly proud to receive our third JD Power award in just five years, an honor that reflects what our passengers experience every day when they travel through our world-class facilities," Airport CEO Michael Stephens said. "TPA has built a reputation for friendly, helpful service; clean, modern facilities; and spacious amenities that are convenient and accessible to all.”

Survey participants ranked TPA the top Airport in North America in three of the seven dimensions the study measured: Level of Trust with Airport; Departure/to Airport Experience; and Arrival/From Airport Experience. TPA also ranked highly in the other dimensions, which include Ease of Travel Through Airport (#2); Airport Staff (#2); Food, Beverage and Retail (#3); and Terminal Facilities (#2).

TPA serves more than 24 million passengers per year and is currently building a brand-new, state-of-the-art international and domestic terminal, Airside D. The 600,000-square-foot project will add 16 gates and provide a new U.S. Customs inspection facility at the Airport, plus a host of new food and beverage and retail options and two new lounge spaces when it opens to the public in 2029.

Airside D is the highlight of the third and final phase of TPA’s Master Plan construction program, which has expanded and improved Airport facilities since 2012. Among the additions in that time are a new rental car facility and SkyConnect train system, the award-winning Express Curbsides for faster passenger drop-off and pick-up, and the LEED Platinum-certified SkyCenter One commercial office building.

“Being recognized in the large airport category is a tremendous achievement, particularly during a time of ongoing construction and improvements, and the honor belongs to our entire TPA family," Stephens said. "This award is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our employees, airline partners, concessionaires, and countless others who work together every day to deliver an exceptional experience. 

"Most importantly, it reflects the pride we all share in representing the Tampa Bay community and our commitment to making TPA an airport that sets the standard for excellence.”

The JD Power announcement is the latest award in a string of accolades for TPA, which in recent years has been named Best Large Airport by USA Today and the #1 15-25 million Passenger Airport in North America by Airports Council International. 

For JD Power 2026 award information, visit jdpower.com/awards for more details.

Tampa International Airport’s latest technology upgrade is just the ticket for quicker and easier movement into and out of all of TPA’s parking garages.

New ticket dispensers at all garage entrances and payment machines at garage exits are currently being installed at Short Term, Long Term and Economy. The updated touchscreen machines are state-of-the-art and are designed to make arriving and leaving a smooth and speedy experience.

The machinery is manufactured by Designa and on exit will now allow tap and pay and payment methods such as Apple Pay.

“This upgrade of the ticketing equipment in our parking garages is part of our continuous efforts to enhance our guest experience," TPA Vice President of Concessions & Commercial Parking Laurie Noyes said. "Our travelers will now be able to begin and end their trips with the latest technology, delivering more convenient and efficient access to and from our parking garages.”

Among the many improvements are modern license plate readers that will scan car tags on the way into and out of the garage.

If the traveler has pre-booked parking at TampaAirport.com/Park and provided their license plate at time of booking, the traveler will not have to scan the QR code when entering the garage as the system will read their license plate. When the driver comes back from their trip on time, they will be able to drive to the exit kiosk where the plate will be scanned again and open the exit arm automatically, without having to provide the QR code again.

The process will work similarly for a driver who leaves within the one-hour grace period for free parking at any garage. They will pull a ticket at the entrance, and if their stay is less than 60 minutes, the license plate scanner will tell the exit arm to raise without the driver having to provide the ticket.

Replacing all the machinery will take a few weeks while people who parked with tickets using the old equipment filter out of the garages. The entire replacement at all three garages, which involves swapping out 18 ticket dispensers and 18 payment machines, is scheduled to be completed in October. Employee parking areas will also receive new equipment with new and improved features.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board at its December 2025 meeting approved $6.2 million for construction and materials on the project as part of the capital budget. Installation work is being performed by Manhattan Construction Company LLC.

In his role, Adel serves as one of TPA’s six ADM leaders and, while on duty, is the highest-ranking staff member overseeing airport operations at TPA. He helps manage day-to-day activity across both the airfield and terminals, coordinating with airport stakeholders, federal partners, and internal teams to respond to everything from weather disruptions and irregular operations to construction impacts and emergency response needs.

“It’s a role where no two days are the same,” Adel said. “When things start to go sideways, that’s when our role really kicks into action.”

That ability to think quickly and collaborate under pressure is at the heart of the job. Whether it’s managing a wave of delayed flights, coordinating an unexpected diversion, or navigating construction work that affects roadways, taxiways, or gates, Adel helps keep the Airport moving safely and efficiently.

Just this past weekend, Adel helped coordinate what to do with an Air China Cargo flight that had to divert to TPA due to bad weather over South Florida. Because the aircraft arrived unexpectedly and there were no local contacts for Air China, Adel and the operations team had to quickly coordinate with Customs, ground handlers, and other Airport partners to determine how the aircraft could be accommodated and who would be able to handle it. In the end, the aircraft was successfully supported through coordination with standby ground handling resources. It's just one example of the many challenges that can come up in an average day for the ADM to handle.

A career built on curiosity

Adel’s path to TPA started early. He participated in an Embry-Riddle aviation internship program while attending Clearwater High School in 2016. The program brought students on site to learn directly from Airport professionals, an experience that made a lasting impression.

“It definitely shined a light on Tampa International Airport as a place where I wanted to start my career,” he said.

From there, Adel continued building his aviation background while earning his bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Florida Tech. Along the way, he worked in a variety of roles across the industry, including at the Signature FBO at St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, working for a private aircraft management and charter company, and later in operational roles at both St. Pete-Clearwater Airport and TPA.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adel even spent time in public service work, including time with 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares, where he helped support COVID-era assistance programs and later worked as a data specialist.

He eventually returned to TPA, advancing through various operations roles from starting off as an Airfield Operations Supervisor to Airport Operations Manager, then to Terminal Operations, and now to Airport Duty Manager.

Aviation has always been part of his story

Adel grew up with a love for aviation from a very young age. Born in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, he was raised in a highly international environment with friends and neighbors from all over the world. His father is Egyptian and his mother is Filipino so the family often traveled to visit relatives in the Philippines, Egypt, and beyond.

“My first international flight was at 9 months old,” he said. “Living near an air base and traveling so much really sparked my interest.”

After moving to the United States at age 12 and graduating from high school, he spent a few years as a student pilot and originally planned to fly for the U.S. military. But after the release of the Top Gun sequel in 2022, Adel says the surge in applicants created a three-year waiting list to begin flight training. Instead, he chose to launch his career right away by working at airports — a decision he says paid off.

Today, he is focused on continuing to grow his career at TPA, with a strong interest in Advanced Air Mobility, a rapidly developing industry that is expected to bring Florida’s first electric, battery-powered aircraft in the coming year. Adel says he is especially interested in how the new technology will be regulated as state transportation leaders, private companies, the FAA and local airports work together to bring it to reality.

Adel is also active beyond TPA. In 2022, he joined the Tampa Bay Aviation Association as a board member and secretary, where he helps support scholarship opportunities for people pursuing careers in aviation.

“It allows me to provide that opportunity for others to get into this amazing industry,” he said.

Travel, movies, food and fun

Outside of work, Adel is the kind of person who likes to stay busy. He loves travel, especially to international destinations, and hopes to explore more of Asia in the future. Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore are all high on his list.

In March, he purchased a ticket to be one of the first Tampa Bay passengers to fly on Avianca's inaugural flight to Bogotá, Colombia. While in South America, he met new friends and visited some of the nation's most beautiful spots including Laguna Guatavita (pictured left), a forest-fringed crater, northeast of Bogotá in central Colombia. It was a sacred site to the Muisca people, who cast elaborate gold offerings into its depths, inspiring the legend of El Dorado.

Adel is also a huge movie fan and proud AMC A-List member, often catching up to 3 films a week if his schedule allows. He also has a large private collection of films at home.

Most of all, Adel describes himself as a true foodie who will try just about anything. He enjoys dishes from every corner of the globe, but his true favorite is chicken shawarma.

“It's like a little wrap. You have chicken on a rotisserie, almost like Gyro meat, but it's just seasoned different. It comes with garlic sauce instead of tzatziki with some fries. It's like a simple little comfort sandwich.”

A rising leader to watch

At just 26 years old, Adel has already built an impressive resume and brings a fresh perspective to TPA’s Airport Operations team. He is a Part 107 FAA licensed drone pilot and a Certified Member through the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). His combination of aviation experience, calm decision-making, and enthusiasm for innovation makes him a standout member of the TPA team. He's also the fastest to call and wake up the TPA Communications team in the middle of the night with his calming voice when something goes wrong.

Thanks, Adel, for all you do to help keep TPA running smoothly every day and every night.

In addition to being able to obtain or sell foreign currency, travelers also can now purchase Florida Lottery tickets. Currency Exchange International also plans to add a 24/7 ATM and other business services in the coming weeks.

"We're excited to bring Currency Exchange International to TPA, especially since they offer an amenity our travelers have been asking for since our last provider closed in 2020," said Stacey Nance, Director of Airport Concessions. "This partnership allows us to offer a convenient, one-stop service for currency exchange and other travel essentials right in the heart of our Main Terminal."

The new location is now open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to Best Large Airport, TPA is also nominated for Best Airport for Dining, with two of its restaurants, Café by Mise en Place and Cigar City Brewing, competing for Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant. Bavaro’s Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria is also in the running for Best Airport Grab-and-Go Food. New this year, The Gasparilla Bar at TPA’s Airside F has been nominated for Best Airport Bar.

A panel of industry experts and editors at USA TODAY selected the nominees in each category.

Now it’s up to the public to decide which airport and restaurants are their favorites. Voting is open until Monday, Oct. 5 at noon, and fans of TPA can vote once a day in each category until polls close. The top 10 winners are scheduled to be announced on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

For the past two years, TPA has ranked No. 1 Best Large Airport in the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Last year, it also earned the No. 1 Best Airport for Dining title, with Airside C’s Bavaro’s, Cigar City Brewing, and Ulele, all Tampa Bay-area concepts, each ranking among the nation’s 10 best in the Airport Grab-and-Go Food or Airport Sit-Down Restaurant categories. This is the first year TPA has been nominated in the Best Airport Bar category.

Click below to vote for TPA and your favorite airport bar or restaurant in each category:

• Best Large Airport
• Best Airport for Art
• Best Airport for Dining
• Best Airport Sit-Down Restaurant
• Best Airport Grab-and-Go Food
• Best Airport Bar

Tampa International Airport travelers headed to or from Airsides A and C will see that both the Red and Blue automated shuttles are back on track.

After extensive guideway renovation and technology testing, TPA’s signature people-movers officially opened to the public at the end of August. The Red shuttles were cleared for passengers a few months after the Blue shuttles were commissioned in the spring.

The brand-new Innovia APM 300 R shuttle cars – in Red and Blue mated pairs at each Airside like the last shuttles – are the third generation of automated transports to and from the Main Terminal since TPA opened in 1971. The cars are manufactured by Alstom in the same Pittsburgh-area production facility as the old shuttles.

While the ride will be familiar to TPA’s travelers, the new shuttles feature improved lighting, video information screens, and doors with obstacle-detection systems.

TPA is the first airport in the world to have these shuttles paired with Alstom’s new proprietary operating system, along with new electrical running gear and concrete guideways. The previous generation of shuttles was installed in the 1990s and ran for well over 1 million miles each.

Airside E is getting the same upgrades, with the Red shuttle cars now installed and the new Blue cars coming soon. Work there is scheduled to be completed later this year.

The guideway rehabilitation and shuttle car replacement for Airsides A and C, which includes design and running surfaces, plus eight cars with their controls and signaling systems, cost $61 million. The Airside E replacement project, with four more cars plus guideways and software system, costs an additional $30 million. The projects are funded with bonds and state grants.

New cars also have been ordered for the forthcoming Airside D. Airside F, which has the newest cars of all the Airsides, is due to get new shuttles in the future.

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Golden says while he's worked on multiple public facing projects within the airport environment, this was his first opportunity to work on a science museum exhibit.

“It was very rewarding and a lot of fun,” Golden said. “From collaborating with the museum and Sotereon, to working with our Communication team on refining and perfecting material for the audience, to seeing the interactive portion come to life, it has been such a great experience.” 

The exhibit also highlights the growing need for STEM talent across aviation and other industries, encouraging young visitors to imagine new possibilities and maybe even pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Golden said MOSI’s reach makes the exhibit especially meaningful, noting that the museum welcomes more than 300,000 visitors each year. “That’s over 300,000 opportunities to inspire to innovate, think freely, and dare to venture into the unknown,” he said. “I hope this exhibit gives someone the courage to be different and try what hasn’t been tried before.” 

The new display was unveiled to the public this week at MOSI.

The updates, adopted at the August HCAA Board Meeting, apply to the Authority’s non-federal Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) programs.

A major milestone in this effort is the launch of in-house certification for the SBE and SBEC programs. Certification determines whether a business is eligible to participate, while the program itself creates a path to real Airport opportunities.

This change also establishes one small business certification standard across the Authority’s federal and non-federal programs.

Under the updated approach, SBE and SBEC certifications will use the same federal SBA business size standards based on NAICS codes, along with the same owner personal net worth limit of $2.047 million used in the DBE and ACDBE programs.

Businesses that are recertified as DBEs or ACDBEs by Florida Unified Certification Program certifying agencies will automatically qualify for SBE or SBEC certification.

For more information about the programs and how to become certified, visit HCAA’s Policies and Programs page on the TPA website or contact BusinessOpportunity@TampaAirport.com.

Tampa Bay business owners interested in business opportunities at Tampa International Airport have a couple of chances to learn more with a pair of information sessions next week.

TPA’s award-winning Concessions program will be holding a free public information session at St. Pete Athletic, 680 28^th St. S in St. Petersburg, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8. The event will be held in the South Wing Grove Lounge.

This free event will feature a presentation on the Airport’s upcoming Concessions Redevelopment Program, which will include information on when food and beverage or retail contracts will be open, and how businesses will be able to apply for a spot. No registration for this event is required.

Then on Thursday, September 10, TPA will host a public networking event designed to connect Concessions Primes and area banks with local and small businesses interested in future opportunities at TPA. Primes manage and operate a major block of food and retail offerings. 

This free event starts at 2 p.m. in TPA’s Main Terminal Event Space on the third floor between the shuttle stations for Airsides E and F. Interested businesses can register for that event here.

For more information on the Concessions team, go to TPAConcessions.com.

Tampa International Airport and its tenant partners are searching for qualified applicants to fill positions ahead of the busy holiday travel season at an Airport-wide Hiring Day event on September 23.

Seventeen employers, including aviation maintenance and repair company Airborne, parking services provider ABM and food-service company SSP America are among the partners accepting applications to fill positions at retail shops, restaurants, ground handling services and other businesses at TPA. These employers combined are searching for candidates for more than 260 open positions.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which operates TPA and Hillsborough County's three General Aviation airports, also will be looking to fill several jobs. The Authority is especially looking for Florida-certified law enforcement officers to join the Tampa International Airport Police Department. HCAA job openings may be viewed here.

Some companies will conduct on-site interviews and applicants may be hired on the spot, so job seekers should bring two forms of identification. Spanish and ASL assistance will be available.

TPA’s Airport-wide Hiring Day will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Main Terminal Event Space between the shuttle stations for Airsides E and F.

No RSVP is required to attend the event. Free parking will be available in the Economy Parking Garage and participants can take the SkyConnect train to the Main Terminal for the event.

Watch for updates at www.tampaairport.com/HiringDay

If you’re coming to Tampa International Airport in the next few weeks and are being dropped off at the Red Side of the Main Terminal, please be aware there’s going to be a short, temporary detour.

A pavement resurfacing project will affect the Red Departures drive to the Ticketing level beginning August 31 at 7 a.m. The project is similar to work done on the Blue Departures drive last summer.

Work crews will be removing and replacing the traffic coating on all four lanes of the drive as part of scheduled maintenance to ensure optimal facility quality and traffic flow. The closure is scheduled to last until mid-October.

Guests who are being dropped off for their flights at Red Side airlines will be directed to instead drive to and get out at the Red Express Curbsides to enter the Main Terminal.

Signage and Airport staff will direct travelers through the building to reach the Ticketing level on the second floor of the Main Terminal. Curbside bag check-in will be available at the Red Express Departures drive.

Travelers who are not checking bags and already have their boarding passes may head up the Red Express escalators or elevators to the third level to reach the shuttle to their Airside.

Red Side airlines include:

• Air Canada
• Alaska Airlines
• Avelo Airlines
• Breeze Airways
• British Airways
• Discover Airlines
• Edelweiss Air
• Frontier
• Southwest Airlines
• Sun Country Airlines
• WestJet

Check here for a full list of which side each airline is on.

During its May 2026 meeting, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved a $1.2 million contract to Restocon Corp. to perform the work for the Red Departures rehabilitation project. 

After conducting a full evaluation of the Transportation Security Administration’s private screening partnership program, TSA Gold+, Tampa International Airport has elected to continue its checkpoint screening operations with its existing federal TSA officers.

Earlier this year, the TSA approached TPA officials with the concept of TSA Gold+, a program that gives TSA oversight of a private company and workforce to conduct screening operations, rather than federal TSA officers. The Airport opted in to evaluate the TSA Gold+ program with the goal of preventing disruptions from future government shutdowns, improving access to the latest screening technology, and enhancing the passenger experience.

Opting in allowed TPA officials to learn about program details and provisions, including security, workforce, technology, financial, and legal considerations, before moving forward.

The Airport conducted an extensive review and evaluation over several months, which resulted in its decision to keep screening operations exclusively with the TSA, and not adopt the Gold+ model.

“We approached Gold+ carefully and deliberately, with a focus on our passengers, employees, airline partners, and long-term operational excellence,” TPA CEO Michael Stephens said. “We are thankful to the TSA for bringing us the opportunity to learn more about a program with the potential to enhance operational resiliency and innovation, and to reach an informed decision.” 

“We have worked closely with our TSA team through record passenger growth, severe weather, federal funding disruptions, and peak travel periods. We value their professionalism and commitment to security and service, and look forward to continuing our strong partnership,” Stephens said.

Travelers awaiting an interview with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer to complete their enrollment for the Global Entry program will have a chance to schedule a slot at a special five-day event at Tampa International Airport this month.

This is the first CBP mass-enrollment event at TPA this year and will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday, August 24, through Friday, August 28, in TPA’s Main Terminal Event Space on Level 3 between the shuttles for Airsides E and F.

Global Entry applicants who are conditionally approved may schedule the interview portion of the process to complete their enrollment in the program. Applicants may select “Tampa International Event Space” as their interview location.

This event is also open to those who have “pending” Global Entry status or walk-ups who need help with their application. CBP officers will assist when they have availability to do so.

Global Entry is one of the Department of Homeland Security’s Trusted Traveler programs, which provide modified screening and expedited clearance for approved members.

Those travelers may skip Customs lines when returning to the U.S. from abroad, using automated kiosks at eligible airports to complete their arrival procedure. Approved Global Entry travelers also are enrolled in the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck program. Enrollment in Global Entry must be renewed after five years.

To apply for Global Entry, travelers should go to CBP's website: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry

Applicants must first undergo a rigorous background check, then must complete an in-person interview. Scheduling these interviews can often take weeks or even months, as the number of enrollment center locations offering interview times is limited.

After the application is complete and travelers have paid the fee, they will receive an email telling them they are conditionally approved and be directed to make an appointment with a Global Entry office. Those who have already scheduled a future interview date may reschedule the interview to the five-day event if they prefer to speed up the process.

CBP officers will be in place to conduct interviews during the enrollment event, with the officers working to accommodate multiple interviews every 10 minutes. That means approximately 1,200 potential interview slots are available during the five-day TPA event.

Conditionally approved Global Entry applicants who miss this opportunity may still take advantage of CBP’s Enrollment on Arrival interview process. Applicants may complete their required interviews upon their return from international travel at participating airports.

For more information about this event, please contact CBP by using this email: TampaTTPinformation@cbp.dhs.gov. 

[Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection]

Phoebe's 4th “Bird-thday” bash: Travelers flying in or out on the big day can catch Phoebe's birthday celebration in person from 12 p.m. until 2 p.m. Featuring a flamingo stilt walker, a steel drum player, and a custom birthday cake, this day-of celebration is a little something extra for passengers already making their way through the TPA that day.

A few other happenings are also planned on August 25:

• The Shoppes at Bayshore: From 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., this location will feature local-artist face painting and flamingo-shaped balloon art.
• Dylan's Candy Bar: Travelers can enjoy a complimentary pink flamingo gummy sample and limited-edition sticker, while supplies last.
• Mindworks: Passengers who purchase an Asobu Bestie Bottle can enjoy free custom name etching, while supplies last.
• P.F. Chang's: Hungry for something pink? P.F. Chang's will offer complimentary pink macarons and mini pink cupcakes, while supplies last. And, they'll also offer custom face painting!

The celebration doesn't stop there. Phoebe's birthday month kicked off August 1 and runs all the way through August 31, with special happenings taking place throughout TPA. From custom punch at several restaurants to flamingo straws at Qdoba to cake pops at TPA's Café con Leche and Buddy Brew locations, be sure to be on the lookout for special pink items if you stop by participating Airport shops and restaurants during this month.

Since her arrival, Phoebe has become one of the most recognizable and photographed spots at TPA. She's also more recently known for her antics on TPA's social media accounts. This year, her birthday celebration is a chance for the Tampa Bay community — travelers, employees, and locals alike — to celebrate right along with her.

Tampa International Airport announced Thursday that the secure identity company, CLEAR, is expected to launch at its security screening checkpoints this fall.

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board approved a contract at today’s board meeting to bring CLEAR+ Lanes and automated eGates to each of TPA’s four Airside terminals for the first time.

CLEAR+ Members will be able to enter dedicated CLEAR+ lanes and move through an eGate — an automated gate that verifies identity in under five seconds by matching a traveler's face to their ID and boarding pass – before they move directly to physical screening.

Bringing CLEAR+ to Tampa International Airport will enable travelers to move on to screening faster, improving the security screening checkpoint process and improving the overall airport experience.

CLEAR's expedited identity verification experience provides a faster and more predictable checkpoint journey to TPA's travelers, and the partnership will further enhance TPA's reputation for innovation and customer service.

"Tampa International Airport is proud to welcome CLEAR to our security screening checkpoints, expanding the range of innovative services available to our travelers,” Airport CEO Michael Stephens said. “This is a convenience that many of our passengers have long requested, and we're excited to partner with CLEAR to provide a faster, more seamless airport experience. By giving travelers another efficient way to move through security, we're continuing our commitment to delivering the exceptional customer service and convenience that have become hallmarks of America's Favorite Airport."

With over 43 million members and operations at 62 CLEAR+ airports, CLEAR's secure identity platform is helping strengthen security and create frictionless checkpoint experiences.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Tampa International Airport to bring CLEAR’s trusted, seamless identity verification experience to travelers in one of the country’s most dynamic and fast-growing regions,” Kyle McLaughlin, EVP, Aviation, CLEAR said. “By bringing CLEAR+ Lanes and automated eGates to TPA, we can work together with the airport to deliver a faster, more predictable airport experience while building on TPA’s strong reputation for innovation and customer service.”

For more information on CLEAR, visit www.clearme.com.

This week, TPA presented a record 238 unclaimed suitcases, backpacks and other items that were never picked up from the Airport’s Lost and Found Department to Hillsborough County Children’s Services and its Duffels of Dignity program.

The donation marks the second consecutive year that Tampa International Airport has contributed to the program, which provides new or gently used bags and luggage to children entering foster care, living in emergency shelters or fleeing domestic violence. The program helps replace trash bags often used to carry personal belongings, offering children a more dignified and supportive start during difficult transitions.

“Every year, hundreds of bags are turned into our Lost and Found Department and, unfortunately, are never claimed," TPA Senior Manager of Guest Experience Shannon Boos said. "Instead of simply disposing of those bags, we wanted to make sure they went to good use.”

Boos said the team in Lost and Found diligently works to locate the owner of any lost items, looking for names, contact information or any other clues associated with the property. When an owner cannot be located and no one comes forward to claim the items over a certain time period, the lost property is donated to local charities to make room for the constant flow of new items left behind at the Airport.

“For children entering foster care, a duffel bag may seem like a small thing, but it can make a tremendous difference,” Boos said. “It gives them a safe, dignified way to carry their personal belongings during what is often one of the most difficult times in their lives.”

Last year, Tampa International Airport donated 119 bags to children in the community, and this year’s donation of 238 bags doubles that total.

Since launching in October 2022, the Duffels of Dignity program has collected more than 2,000 bags for children in need through individual donations and partnerships with various local organizations.

Just a couple of months after Airside D’s structural steel started going up, crews are working around the clock creating some truly concrete results across the worksite.

Concrete platforms inside the steel framework have begun appearing on all levels of the building. The concrete is placed onto metal decking that has been reinforced with steel rebar on each floor.

The structural steel has now moved onto the sixth of 19 separate assembly sequences. A second crane was brought onsite in mid-July to help move the more than 7,300 steel members that will comprise the new Airside terminal.

Meanwhile, more workers have completed the building’s foundation and have been placing concrete for the rest of Airside D’s ground floor and the apron for aircraft across the worksite. Much of that work has been done overnight to mitigate risk and take advantage of cooler temperatures, which allow for better quality control for the concrete.

The existing apron is being demolished panel by panel and crushed onsite to be recycled into the properly sized aggregate (think different sizes of gravel) as that is used as six inches of underlayment for the new concrete.

The ground floor slab-on-grade of Airside D is eight inches of concrete placed over this recycled aggregate while the apron concrete, which needs to withstand the pressure from aircraft that can weigh several hundred tons, is 18 inches thick. When the project is completed, workers will end up placing almost 85,000 cubic yards of concrete for the apron alone.

The dry weather earlier this summer has kept all the work on schedule, with no major disruptions so far.

Other parts of the project that have reached milestones lately:

• The final steel and concrete guideway beams for the future Airside shuttles have been placed across the support piers to the steel supports for the shuttle station. Workers are now creating running surfaces for the shuttles and infrastructure for the baggage delivery system.
   
• Water and sewage pipes are being buried across the worksite with plans for connecting to city water later this year.
   
• Elevators and escalators are being fabricated for eventual installation across the building.
   
• A slightly new route for Bessie Coleman Boulevard is being cleared to connect the road with the future Airside D truck court underneath the shuttle guideway.
   
• Precast concrete panels to sheath the outside of the building are scheduled to be installed in September.

TPA broke ground on Airside D in December 2024, with the building scheduled to be open to the public in 2029. The design-build team for the project is led by construction company Hensel Phelps, with architecture and engineering company HNTB Corporation, in association with Gensler.

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The announcement was made on July 27, also known as 727 Day in celebration of the Pinellas County area code.

The premium bus service will provide a direct connection between downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa International Airport, giving passengers, airport employees and residents a faster, more convenient and more affordable way to travel across the bay. The route will operate seven days a week, include luggage racks, and will be the first public transit route to use the new Howard Frankland Bridge express lanes to help improve reliability and reduce stress for riders.

“This is more than a new route. It’s a transformational investment in how our region moves,” said PSTA CEO Brad Miller. “For the first time, residents and visitors will have a direct, premium transit connection from the heart of downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport. Whether you’re catching a flight, heading to work or visiting our community, the 727 Airport Express will make traveling across the bay easier, faster and more convenient than ever before.”

The new service will include nine stops in downtown St. Petersburg, including connections to SunRunner stops and the Pinellas County Beaches, and will run every 75 minutes. For airport travelers, that means a simple, dependable option with room for luggage and fewer concerns about driving, parking or navigating unfamiliar roads. One-way fares will be $2.25.

“We applaud PSTA for thinking regionally and creating new ways to improve connectivity in the Tampa Bay area,” said Tampa International Airport CEO Michael Stephens. “This new express service will offer a convenient, reliable, and sustainable link across the bridge for our 25 million annual passengers and nearly 11,000 employees, strengthening mobility and growth for both Tampa and St. Pete.”

“This is a very significant occasion, because this is the beginning of real transit across Tampa Bay,” said Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen, who is also a member of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board. “Michael said it best — we connect everywhere in the world, but we haven’t connected enough in our own backyard,” said Cohen. “Now we are putting our region together.”

The 727 Airport Express is expected to launch in October.