If you’re looking to give a brand-new electric vehicle a spin, you’ll get a charge out of the options now available at Tampa International Airport. 

Car rental company Hertz is investing heavily in its EV offerings, recently installing 42 Level 2 Tesla Wall Connector charging stations in its space at TPA’s Consolidated Rental Car Center.

The charging infrastructure supports an expansive fleet of EVs at Hertz, giving TPA guests access to several EV makes and models. Customers at TPA’s Hertz location can now rent Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y; the Polestar 2; Chevrolet’s Bolt EV and EUV; and Hyundai’s Kona.

Hertz plans to add more makes and models this year as part of its efforts to make a full quarter of its fleet electric by the end of 2024.

“We support our partners’ sustainability efforts, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure,” TPA Vice President of Concessions and Commercial Parking Laurie Noyes said. “These new charging stations demonstrate the investment Hertz is making in electric vehicles and provides more options for TPA rental car customers who may prefer an EV, or even want to try one out for the first time.”

Hertz, which began renting EVs to Airport customers last year, also plans to install 12 Tesla Superchargers at its Airport maintenance facility in the future.

“As Hertz builds the largest EV rental fleet in North America, it’s critical to partner with airports across the country to create a robust charging infrastructure,” said Joshua Blum, Hertz Vice President of Global Real Estate and Concessions. “We’re thrilled that TPA is prioritizing electrification and supports our efforts to make EVs more accessible to people visiting the Tampa area.”

For more information on rental car options at TPA, go here.

Following a year of historic inflation in Tampa Bay and rising labor and construction costs, Tampa International Airport is continuing to execute plans to better serve guests and expand the number of available parking spaces.

Current projects include installing moving walkways in the Long Term Parking Garage and demolishing the outdated Monorail in the Long and Short Term garages. These improvements will eventually provide almost 500 new parking spaces across both garages. 

The projects are advancing on schedule, due to be completed in mid-2024 at a cost of $30.4 million as part of the Airport’s Capital Improvement Program.

But inflation has affected both the Airport and the Tampa Bay area at a higher rate than in many other large airport markets. Per unit labor costs have increased 14 percent since before the pandemic, and parking facility operations costs over the next 12 years are estimated to be $72 million.  To help address these costs, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors on Thursday approved a parking rate adjustment for TPA’s Economy Parking Garage.

Beginning April 4, 2023, the maximum daily rate for Economy parking will go up by $2, increasing the total for 24 hours of parking there from $12 to $14. Hourly rates will not be affected.

“The Airport’s Economy Parking Garage is a superior value for our guests when compared to other large airports,” said Laurie Noyes, TPA Vice President of Concessions and Commercial Parking. “We offer travelers a clean and modern parking garage that’s a quick train ride from the Main Terminal, instead of a remote surface lot that’s only reachable by waiting for a shuttle bus.”

The Board also approved a future parking rate adjustment for when current projects are completed; the timing is not yet finalized but is scheduled to be the fourth quarter of FY2024.

When that rate adjustment takes effect, daily maximum parking fees will be $28 in the Short Term Garage, $22 in the Long Term Garage and $18 in the Economy Garage.

Even after the change, TPA’s parking rates will remain competitive among large airports in the U.S. and still comparable to off-airport parking.

TPA parking rates will always be cheaper online at park.tampaairport.com. The online booking site, which launched in 2021, allows travelers to reserve a parking space up to a year in advance.

The last time the HCAA Board approved a rate adjustment for TPA parking facilities was in 2020.

Implementing this technology for departures is one of the latest initiatives TPA has undertaken to improve efficiency, safety and convenience during the boarding process.

Currently, the Airport has eight biometric scanners installed, exclusively at international airline gates, with several more on the way.

“By 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has mandated that all U.S. international flights use biometric scanners," TPA IT Analyst David Golden said. “The ones we’ve been implementing at TPA will replace, in many cases, the traditional boarding pass scanners.” 

The process for using this new technology is simple: When someone walks up to the gate, the biometric scanner will take a photo, compare that with the passport photo on file with CBP, ensure the passenger’s name is on the flight manifest and will clear or reject the passenger – all within five seconds. As soon as the automatic gates open for the passenger to pass through, they will immediately close before the next passenger is able to board. The biometric scanner has the capability to prevent piggybacking and can also be modified for those needing to use a wheelchair.

As an example of how quickly this technology can speed up the boarding process, a plane carrying approximately 130 passengers will be able to board in 11 minutes. The current average boarding time for an aircraft of that size is approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Golden said that in many aspects, TPA is already ahead of the biometric curve.

“We are joining the ranks of other major airports using this new technology to speed up and simplify the airport experience," Golden said. "Multiple airlines are currently working with the Airport to implement this new process and our goal is to have multiple biometric scanners in use soon.” 

As TPA looks to the future, passengers can expect an even more seamless experience traveling through the Airport, regardless of the destination. Within the next 10 to 15 years, TPA expects to have the technology in place for passengers to use biometrics to check a bag, use the shuttles, pass through TSA and board a flight, all without needing a paper boarding pass. 

“The future is here,” Golden said. “And the future is amazing.” 

After completing the Blue Express Curbsides project last year, crews will begin preparations to build a Red Express Curbsides facility on the opposite side of the Airport. 

“This is a game changer,” said TPA Senior Manager of Construction Dan Seeley. “The efficiency of getting in and out of the airport is going to be so much more efficient.”

The project is designed to reduce congestion for both arriving and departing passengers while allowing those without checked baggage the ability to get picked up or dropped off, bypassing the ticketing or baggage claim levels. 

Before work can begin on the Red Express Curbsides, crews must first begin the process of demolishing the Airport’s 1970's-era, original administration building underneath the Short Term Parking Garage. 

“This is like doing heart surgery,” said Seeley. “There’s a building above you, there’s roadways on either side of you. There’s a Marriott Hotel. There’s an FAA Control Tower, there’s an active loading dock.”

The old Admin building is also part of the support structure for the parking garage, so before demolishing, crews must first put in temporary support beams to reinforce the garage before carefully removing the structure below and upgrading the remaining structural components. That part of the project is expected to take a full year before construction on the new expansion can begin. 

This week, visitors to Tampa International Airport will notice a new wall going up along the left side of the main red arrival and departure curbsides. The wall will separate traffic and passengers from the construction zone on the other side. 

Once demolition is complete, passengers can expect roadway work and shifting traffic patterns beginning next spring as construction of new ramps for the Red Express Curbsides gets underway.

Passengers can also expect some major changes in the Main Terminal as the hallway connecting to the Marriott Hotel is opened up to create a large open space, which will include three new pieces of public artwork and updated finishes to match the Express Blue Curbsides and Main Terminal.

The final piece will include a new shuttle station which will eventually connect to the planned Airside D, Tampa International Airport’s future 16-gate international and domestic airside terminal. That project, which is Phase 3 of the airport’s Master Plan, is in the budgeting process with construction planned to begin in the next few years and a completion date currently scheduled for late 2027.

Completion of the Red Express Curbsides and new Airside D Shuttle station in the Main Terminal is expected to be completed by summer of 2025. To learn more about the Master Plan Update, go to https://www.tampaairport.com/2022-master-plan-update

The CUP:  That circular slab of concrete with the pretty waterfalls located on our circular drive isn't just for looks. That's our newly finished Central Utility Plant - nicknamed the CUP - and it's the powerhouse that fuels that crisp, cool air you feel in our terminals. And bonus: It’s 30 percent more efficient than our previous central energy system, which means it's also better for the environment.

ICE-COLD BEVERAGES: Our grab-and-go coolers located at shops throughout the Airport have plenty of cold bottles of water, iced tea, soda, energy drinks and other options to keep you hydrated. But if you have some extra time to relax and want a drink with some zing, try our Spirit of Flight, a special fruity cocktail mixed specifically for TPA. It's available at bars located throughout the Main Terminal and Airsides.

A COMFY ARRIVAL:  For many years, passengers arriving at TPA were hit with a heat wave the second they stepped off the plane and onto the jet bridges leading to the terminals. That's no longer the case, thanks to our award-winning efforts to air-condition our jet bridges, which was no simple task. In 2017, we retrofitted our dozens of existing jet bridges and several new ones with customized A/C systems that ensure a cooler welcome to all who land in Tampa so that the only warmth they feel after arriving is from hugs.

GINORMOUS FANS: We’re a fan of our giant fans. Look up and you'll see them located anywhere our air-conditioning doesn't reach, such as our outdoor patios and our commercial curbs at the new SkyCenter One building. Fun fact: Airside A, which was built pre-9/11 and before TPA had the need for checkpoint areas, is the only Airside terminal that has the big fans to help cool passengers as they wait in line. They're not needed at the other Airside checkpoints, which are designed with A/C cooling those areas. 

FROYO FUN: Last, but certainly not least, we can’t forget cooling down with a sweet treat. There's nothing quite like customizing your own cup of frozen yogurt with several different toppings from Yogurtology in Airside F. It's sweet, delicious and the perfect way to chill out before catching your flight.

1. The artwork, of course

At Tampa International Airport, when something grand-scale is built, new artwork almost always accompanies that project. Be it a new terminal, a new curbside or a 21-foot flamingo, TPA is all about beautifying a space, and that's just what has been done with the new Blue Express Curbsides. Two new art installations currently decorate the interior space of the Blue Express Curbs. “Tropicalismo Revisited” by Catherine Wagner is a palm tree-esque concept that pays homage to the tropical modernist landscape that once existed at the Airport, while “Florida Sunset” by Jason Middlebrook is a massive mosaic mural featuring floral patterns and sunset colors. As travelers enter and exit the terminal, the oversized landscape acts as a celebration of the surrounding environments. The wall behind both artworks was purposely painted a stark white to provide a contrast where the art truly dominates the space. 

2. Our rideshare partners are pressed for Express

When you are ready to depart your home toward the Airport and type "Tampa International Airport" on your Uber or Lyft apps, you will be prompted to answer whether you're checking a bag or not. This will change your journey as you head to TPA. Based on your decision, the app will prompt your driver to drop you off at level 2 for regular arrivals if you're checking a bag or Express for departures if you're sans checked baggage. Similarly, when you're ready to leave the Airport, the apps will prompt you to decide if you are departing from Express or Baggage Claim. This is just another way TPA is elevating the passenger experience and making things more seamless for its passengers. 

3. Special design elements

From the incorporation of the colors and textures inside the space to the selection of wood paneling, the Design-Build Team of Hensel Phelps and HNTB, took every detail into consideration while designing the interior of the building. Along your journey, you'll notice that the passenger path is punctuated with Terrazzo patterning and wood accents. All of these elements come together to celebrate Tampa’s natural beauty and assist passengers in finding their way toward their destinations. 

"Our design incorporates large, open volumes and clear unobstructed sight lines in a way that promotes a very intuitive sense of direction and clarity of passenger path," said Matthew Hallett, Associate Vice President and Director of Design and Architecture of HNTB.

From beautiful art that decorates the space to the incorporation of key design elements to enhance the passenger journey, no stone was left unturned in the construction and development of TPA's new Blue Express Curbsides. TPA is excited to unveil this new amenity and introduce its guests to a more streamlined experience, making airport travel easy and efficient.

To learn more about the Blue Express curbs, click here.

The eight Blue Express Curbside lanes, expected to open Nov. 16 in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday period, will allow passengers to get to and from their gates faster, bypassing the ticketing or bag claim levels, and improving the overall passenger experience. 

"Passenger needs and expectations are changing," said TPA CEO Joe Lopano. "Our Blue Express Curbsides will better serve our guests and enhance an already smooth experience. On top of that, we’ll also be making our Main Terminal more efficient, decongesting busy areas and helping us prolong the life of our facilities.” 

The new curbsides are located on the airport’s Blue Side and will be available to passengers flying on American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Copa Airlines, Cayman Airways and Swift Air. 

Eight additional express curbsides will also be added to the airport’s Red Side as part of the expansion, doubling TPA’s curbside capacity. The Red Side Curbs are expected to be complete in early 2025. 

"We take great pride in our legacy of innovation at TPA. This revolutionary project further cements our place as industry leaders, promoting smart growth that will translate into a positive economic impact for our region," said Lopano. 

The new Blue Express Curbsides means that some of TPA’s guests will face an additional decision when driving into Tampa International Airport. 

As of Nov. 16, those dropping off passengers on the Blue Side will need to choose the Express Curbside lanes if they’re not checking a bag, or the standard, full-service curbside lanes. Passengers will then take the elevator, escalator or stairs up one level to the transfer level of the Main Terminal. Drivers picking up travelers without a checked bag will choose the Express Pick-up Curbside lanes (arrivals).

TPA has installed extensive signage throughout the roadways in advance of the curbside grand opening. 

"It’s pretty straightforward: If you’re checking bags, use the traditional full-service curbs. If you’re not, go to express," said John Tiliacos, TPA’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. "We believe guests will pick up on the change quickly and appreciate this feature, but we’ll also do everything in our power to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible." 

The Blue Express Curbsides are one of the signature projects of TPA’s Master Plan Phase 2 expansion, which also includes roadway widening, construction of a new office building/atrium to enable further growth, and the addition of a new taxiway bridge for planes.

Overall, construction on Phase 2 began in late 2018 and will extend through 2025. The total program budget is approximately $544 million. 

Guests can book online by clicking the parking banner at TampaAirport.com. Parking visits can be booked up to one year in advance of a trip. Booking online will always be cheaper than at the gate.

“This tool will help us modernize the parking operation at Tampa International Airport, providing contactless convenience and greater ease-of-use for our passengers and guests,” said Laurie Noyes, TPA’s Vice President of Concessions and Commercial Parking. “The system is easy to find and easy to use. After booking online, passengers will simply receive a confirmation email with a QR code to scan when entering and exiting the garages.”

The online booking system takes place as the airport implements a $2 rate adjustment across all the parking facilities. The change was approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors in February 2020 but implementation was delayed due to the pandemic. The new rates will officially go into effect beginning April 6. Customers who book parking online will keep current rates, saving $2 dollars per day by using the new system.

By booking online, guests also have the ability to upgrade their parking and sign up for future deals and promotional parking emails.

The system saw strong usage during a soft launch earlier this month. In just two weeks, TPA recorded more than 835 transactions.

Due to COVID-19, TPA has prioritized creating additional contactless or near contactless transactions. This includes everything from shopping or dining at the airport to accessing our airside shuttles through new electronic gates.

“We believe this new contactless parking option will be much appreciated by our guests and will play a role in helping our passengers feel comfortable when they choose to fly again,” said Noyes.

P. F. Chang’s is the latest of more than nearly three dozen restaurants to reopen since since the COVID-19 pandemic dropped passenger levels to a slow trickle, forcing the majority of Airport options to temporarily close. To date, about 80 percent of TPA's restaurants are open.

This opening of one of TPA's most prominent options is a sign that business at the Airport is on an upward trajectory. With Spring Break now well underway, TPA is seeing some pre-pandemic-like numbers with as many as 60,000 travelers a day during recent weekends.

“P. F. Chang’s is one of our cornerstone restaurants in the Main Terminal and we’re very excited to have it open,” said Kate Webb, TPA's Director of Concessions. “We’re ready to welcome our passengers back with safe, comfortable dining options as they travel.”

The restaurant originally opened at the Airport in July 2016 and has been a passenger favorite ever since thanks to its food, ambiance and unique extras.

Here are four things you missed about P.F. Chang’s, even if you didn’t know you missed them:

The outdoor patio

In Florida, outdoor eating is optimal just about any time of the year, but the patio at P. F. Chang’s takes the experience to a new level. Watch the SkyConnect trains glide to and from the Rental Car Center as you enjoy sushi and a Spirit of Flight cocktail (Tampa International Airport's official cocktail). Worried about getting a little warm? The patio is a fully covered space and massive fans spin high above the seating areas, keeping the area constantly cool and comfortable.

The food

Starters, spring rolls and salads are just a few of the items you can order at this Asian-inspired restaurant. Other favorites include:

• Chang’s lettuce wraps - made famous by their “secret family recipe” and well-known as their signature dish
• Chang’s spicy chicken - another signature dish with grilled chicken smothered in a sweet-spicy chili sauce
• Signature lo mein - made up of wok-tossed noodles, mushrooms, Asian vegetables, savory soy

The drinks

Be it the Airport's signature cocktail, the Spirit of Flight, or a Chang’s mai tai, this TPA restaurant has all you’d need for your pre- or post-flight cocktail desires. With two full bars, one inside and one on the patio, snag a seat and order your favorites. TPA reminds you to please drink responsibly.

The anticipation (waiting for a flight or a loved one)

Everyone knows that special feeling of waiting to board a flight heading to your next vacation or to visit loved ones – it’s indescribable. Take in the excitement and anticipation in the calm ambiance of one of TPA’s largest restaurants. Waiting for a loved one to arrive? Nothing says, “Welcome to Tampa” better than patio-side Asian tapas and happy hour.

P. F. Chang’s has been a passenger favorite since it opened its doors in 2016. Today, the restaurant is open and thriving with a safe, comfortable environment for all to enjoy.

Not traveling, but still want to visit? Take advantage of our one-hour free parking in our Long or Short Term Garages.

The new program, dubbed TPA to Go, offers customers a touchless, convenient and fast option for pickup or delivery.

“In today’s travel climate, contactless ordering is tremendously important,” said Laurie Noyes, TPA's VP of Concessions and Commercial Parking. “Our goal is to instill confidence in the airport experience and provide tools for our passengers to access food and beverage however they are most comfortable. We believe this new service will provide our guests a first-class contactless experience throughout the airport.”

The initiative comes as passengers are increasingly looking for comfortable, convenient airport experiences with minimal touchpoints.

TPA to Go is powered by the e-commerce platform, Grab, and AtYourGate, which spearheads the delivery component. Food items are cooked to order, boxed and sealed for a safe dining-on-the-go experience.

“We are delighted to partner with Tampa International Airport to bring the TPA to Go program to life,” said Jeff Livney, Chief Experience Officer at Servy, the company behind Grab. “This innovation gives travelers a simple, contactless option to have their favorite restaurant food delivered directly to them throughout the airport. As travel continues to increase, this will alleviate stress for passengers on the day of travel and enhance the overall airport experience.”

Orders can be placed through the Grab app or by visiting https://tpatogo.com/. Contactless pickup is free while a fee of $4.99 is applied for deliveries.

Featuring four stories of glass windows, vast open spaces and clean, modernist architecture, the building is visually striking and breathtaking in its scale. Now, it also serves as a perfect canvas for two brilliant sculptures from world-renowned artists Soo Sunny Park and Jason Hackenwerth.

The new public works, commissioned by TPA as part of the Airport’s Master Plan expansion, illuminate the space with vibrant colors and dynamic, abstract shapes that challenge the mind and help to transport you away from the day-to-day grind.

The building itself is a waypoint on a traveler’s journey. These two works practically demand that one stops to consider them, offering up a serene moment of surprise and delight.

“That’s precisely how I like to talk about my work and precisely how I believe the function of art should impact us,” said Hackenwerth, a St. Pete-based artist and professor at Eckerd College who is widely known for his work with latex balloons. “I believe that we as humans connect with one another and our surroundings most profoundly when we let go of our compulsive thinking. That’s precisely what good art helps us to do: to drop all of that mental baggage and connect with the moment.”

Hackenwerth’s piece, entitled Cove, is a translucent, moving mobile inspired by a coral reef that hangs adjacent to the Atrium’s fourth floor.

“What was most important to me is that the work could move, rotate and change,” he said. “Each time a person engages it, it will change. In my mind, all the pieces needed to move.”

Hackenwerth is most known for his work with balloons, but, for this installation, opted to use a combination of stainless steel metal rods draped in resin-coated fabric. This material helps achieve some of the same aesthetic of the other medium, while giving added permanence.

Park’s work, which is currently untitled, hangs prominently in the center of the Atrium’s great open space, which measures approximately 63 feet from floor to ceiling. The reflective and translucent sculpture spans about 20 feet and has a soft, undulating quality that traces back to the rolling hills of Vermont, where Park lives.

The form has a very elevated feel; it’s effortless, moving in the air, flowing,” said Park. “It has the movement of air lifting the piece.”

Park, who also teaches at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., said the piece was designed to play with light and shadows, transforming and evolving throughout the day.

“I think about the space and how viewers become participants, engaging and weaving through the work,” she said. “In that way, the piece becomes more of an environment rather than an object.”

For both Park and Hackenwerth, this is the first permanent piece in an airport, and both were thrilled to help enhance the guest experience. The importance of art in public spaces is critical, they said.

“I really love public art because, whether you notice or not, it’s there in your everyday life,” Park said. “I think that it brings everybody together. You don’t have to feel like you’re an art lover or gallery goer – it’s just there and part of everyday life.”

“It brings joy and some sort of spark – a time to take a pause.”

Only 33 airports across the globe and five others in North America earned the inaugural award for Best Hygiene Measures.

"From day one, the health and safety of our passengers, guests and employees has been our top priority, so receiving this recognition is particularly meaningful,” said Airport CEO Joe Lopano. “We have worked tirelessly over the past year to make our guests feel safe when they decide to resume flying. I’m incredibly proud of our team for all the hard work that made this possible.”

The ACI service awards highlight the world’s best airports as judged by their guests, and this year ACI introduced new hygiene-related questions to its passenger surveys to better understand how airports have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The award helps provide TPA and other airports with a reliable method of gauging customer response to new health measures and recognizes airports’ success in responding to the elevated focus on hygiene.

TPA’s hygiene measures date back to early 2020 when the pandemic first came to Florida. Tasked with creating new ways to keep passengers and employees safe, TPA responded with a comprehensive, Airport-wide effort dubbed “TPA Ready” to help limit the spread of germs and viruses.

The program reinforced best practices for social distancing and mask usage, increased the disinfection of high-touch surfaces, added hundreds of plastic shield barriers and thousands of social distancing markers. The Airport also strongly urged passengers and guests to modify behaviors and follow guidelines designed to keep themselves and others healthy and safe.

In October 2020, TPA partnered with BayCare to become the first in the U.S. to offer two types of COVID-19 testing for both arriving and departing passengers. To date, more than 17,000 passengers have been tested.

Passenger numbers at TPA and other airports across the United States are gradually rebounding after an historic drop in 2020.

TPA has remained a target market for leisure travel, with airlines launching 16 new flights and resuming flights to more than 25 cities in 2020 alone.

On Feb. 16, TPA welcomed four new train cars – two with larger-than-life depictions of the Sandhill Crane and two featuring the Anhinga – after a 26-month journey to procure, build and ship the vehicles from their factory in Japan.

The total number of vehicles in the system is now up to 16, or eight married pairs. Each pair features an image of a different native bird splashed across its sides.

The vehicles play a key role in the Airport’s future growth, and will help address peak capacity demands when moving passengers between the Main Terminal, Economy Parking Garage and the Rental Car Center.

“We’re tremendously excited to begin testing on these new vehicles and get them up-and-running for our passengers,” said Paul Ridgeway, TPA’s Director of Maintenance. “The addition of these cars will help us out significantly during peak volume times, such as spring break or over the holidays, and will make our passenger experience that much better."

Before they can be passenger-ready, the vehicle must first go through an extensive testing and commissioning period. Due to this and current demand levels, Ridgeway anticipates the vehicles will likely not be put into place until late 2021.

The addition of these vehicles allows the airport to increase capacity by running four-car trains instead of the current two-car operation. This means that far more passengers will be able to be accommodated each time one of these trains pulls into the station.

“The addition of these new vehicles will ensure we have adequate capacity to meet passenger demands well into the future,” said Ridgeway.

The dramatically enhanced service will provide some of the fastest internet speeds in the region and is the product of a two-year distributed antenna project that involved installing some 800 antennas across TPA's property and running approximately 50 miles of fiber and copper cables.

As of today, 5G is available on AT&T and Verizon in the Main Terminal and post-security airsides. T-Mobile's 5G service will come online later this month.

In addition to widespread 5G service, guests will see a significant enhancement to their 4G speeds and vastly improved cell phone coverage throughout the Airport - all but eliminating low service areas. The coverage extends from the moment passengers turn on their phones at the airplane boarding gates to the moment they leave the new Rental Car Center.

"We're connecting customers at speeds that are off the charts by today's standards," said Brandon Taugner, TPA's Director of ITS Enterprise Operations & Client Services. "With 5G, you'll be able to download up to 2 Gigabits per second. Very few people have that – not even in your home."

So how fast is this, exactly?

With a 5G phone, you would be able to download Martin Scorsese's 3 hour and 30 minute epic "The Irishman" in as little as 2 seconds. Or, if chess is your thing, you could download all seven episodes of "The Queen's Gambit" in seven seconds.

For those with 4G service, mobile speeds have also dramatically improved, offering download speeds up to 300 Megabits per second. At these speeds, it would take roughly 35 seconds to download "The Irishman" and less than 80 seconds to download "The Queen's Gambit" series.

The innovative distributed antenna system (DAS) project, which made this service possible, began in 2018 and was awarded to Crown Castle, the nation's largest provider of communications infrastructure.

The system is expected to generate approximately $500,000 in revenue per year for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority over the life of the contract. The Authority did not bear any of the costs for the installation of the system.

And that’s exactly what artist Sheryl Oring has accomplished in her piece “Greetings from Tampa Bay,” which debuted on Monday morning. The work, located on the Main Terminal Transfer Level near the walkway to the Long Term Garage, features 171 Polaroid images from the region along with 123 stories gathered directly from those who call this area home.

The 48-foot display creates an unfiltered and intimate depiction of the Tampa Bay region. The stories can be fun, surprising, heartwarming, and above all, honest.

We recently sat down with Oring, an internationally renowned artist and Professor and Chair of the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art and Art History at Wayne State University in Detroit, for a few minutes to learn a little more about this work, what it means to her and the role it plays in the travel journey for passengers at Tampa International Airport.

Hi Sheryl – thank you for taking time to talk with us about this exciting new work. Tell us about the inspiration for “Greetings from Tampa Bay”?

“Greetings from Tampa Bay” plays off the idea of trying to tell the story of this place. I have developed a framework of working, doing public performances with a typewriter, where I go out to a location with a question. I ask people who are just passing by to answer that question.

In this case, I asked people to share stories of Tampa Bay. I went all over the region with a team of typists. We were all dressed up in early 1960s attire, we had manual typewriters and just invited people to come and talk to us. I set up in Ybor City, in St. Petersburg, all around Tampa and people shared their stories about the region, about their history – about their experiences. Sometimes they were really poignant – little family histories or things about why they came to Tampa.

Those stories helped inspire photographs.

To go along with the aesthetics of the typewriter and the whole project, I used Polaroid film – it’s a type of special film that has a round image. I just liked the aesthetic of that and how it kind of looked like you were looking through binoculars.

How did you decide what images you selected for this piece?

I made all these Polaroid images around the region, inspired by the stories that people told me – what they thought was important about it. All of this was scanned in and printed out on aluminum. So this is a more permanent way of showing photographs and printed papers.

Your art is very much based in the collective experiences of others. Why do you like making your art through the eyes of other people?

Well, the idea with this one, is to paint a picture of a region and to show that portrait in the airport. I’m not from here. It was research, essentially. It was a way to understand the place.

How many trips did I take here? More than a dozen. I was here so many times just trying to understand the place. The travel was really an integral part of the work, in the sense of trying to understand the region.

Through this project, you’ve visited numerous times, interviewed dozens of people and visited locations across the region. What’s your impression of the region – and do you have any stories that really struck you from this piece?

There were a lot of happy stories – a lot of love stories. That was a little bit of a surprise. I remember at the Tampa Museum a lot of people telling about how they met their partner and fell in love in Tampa. Actually, one that I remember that really struck me is this lesbian couple that came up to me at the Tampa Museum of Art. They moved here from Pennsylvania. They never felt comfortable being out in any other place they lived, and they had come to Tampa to retire. They felt very comfortable being out with each other here. It just kind of gave me goosebumps. They lived their whole lives in the closet and then came here and felt comfortable just being themselves. I heard a lot of stories like that. People felt like they could be themselves here. That was really striking.

It feels like an accepting place – and a fun place. Definitely fun. There are also a lot of stories of people coming from different parts of the country and leaving their lives behind and starting over. They are embracing a certain joy of living here.

This location in the Main Terminal is especially prominent and will be seen by thousands of passersby each year. For a lot of people, it’ll be the first or last impression of the region. What’s it like to have your work located in this spot?

Well, it’s very touching. I’m really super pleased with the location. It does feel like this could be a welcome, in a way. A welcome to this place.

What’s the importance of having public art – especially in places where you wouldn’t expect it.

Sometimes travel can be stressful, especially now with COVID. I think that something like this can make people slow down for a minute, reflect on their trip. There are so many sweet stories and images captured in this work. For example, there’s a little place called Paradise Grill on St. Pete Beach all the way down at the end. They have this really sweet tradition where they ring the bell at sunset. I love that so much, and every time I come here I try to get out there at least once.

My hope is that some of these pictures and stories will awake those memories and that type of feeling in others. It’s meant to extend that moment of joy.

This is a joyful piece. It’s really happy.

This walkway replaces two smaller walkways that previously connected the garage to the terminal and it is one of the first public-facing Master Plan Phase 2 projects to open to travelers and guests.

This new walkway is centrally located instead of at the ends of the garage and is wider than earlier versions. Unlike before, it is enclosed and air conditioned. Eventually, it will connect the Airport’s eight blue express curbsides via a new vertical transfer building. The express curbsides and vertical transfer building are both currently under construction.

Tampa International Airport and BayCare Health System today announced the expansion of the airport's COVID-19 Passenger Testing Program into 2021 after the success of its first three months of operation.

The COVID-19 testing site is located in the airport's Main Terminal, near the entrance to Airside F. Since the program launched on October 1^st, the testing site has processed more than 12,000 FDA-approved COVID-19 tests (Polymerase Chain Reaction and rapid antigen).

"The numbers make it clear: Passengers appreciate the convenience and the confidence that our TPA COVID-19 testing site provides, making travel safer for themselves and those around them," TPA CEO Joe Lopano said. "We're thrilled to continue our partnership with BayCare in offering this voluntary testing service into 2021."

Both the airport and BayCare anticipate operating the site for several more months.

"We know that until there is a herd immunity, testing will continue to be key to combatting this virus and making us all safer," said Donna St. Louis, BayCare's vice president for business development, whose team oversees the service. "We welcome the chance to partner with Tampa International Airport to provide this service and access for our community."

Program highlights to date:

• An average of about 133 tests per day, peaking at more than 280 in a single day
• Usage of PCR and antigen tests is about even, with guests slightly preferring PCR tests.
• The majority of those tested continues to be departing passengers who tested days in advance of travel

The testing site will be closed on New Year's Day and on Saturdays beginning January 9^th. Hours of operation are:

• Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to noon on Sundays.

The pricing of $150 for the PCR test and $60 for the rapid antigen test remains the same.

Testing is voluntary and is open to all arriving and departing passengers who can show proof of travel. Passengers departing from TPA to destinations requiring a negative PCR test, the most accurate and broadly accepted internationally, are advised to take the test three days before departure and can expect results within 48 hours. Passengers should check to ensure they receive ther test results in accordance with the requirements or guidelines for their destination.

Under law, BayCare reports all positive results to the Florida Department of Health.

For more information about Tampa International Airport's COVID-19 Passenger Testing Program, visit https://baycare.org/TPA-Testing.

But it wasn't a year of complacency for America's favorite airport. This past year, TPA saw more innovation than ever before as we sprang into action to adjust to the new normal, as well as adding new amenities, new features and even new flights that will serve our customers for years to come. Here are 10 things we gained in 2020 -- some that we expected and some we would have never dreamed would be a part of TPA life.

New places for pooches to potty: Late this year, we put the finishing touches on our new Service Animal Relief Areas, complete with faux grass and fake fire hydrants to help service dogs feel at ease. The new areas, available at each airside, will make it easier for those traveling with service dogs to find relief without having to locate staff to help.

Friendly reminders to give people more space: Who likes being crowded anyway? In April, TPA staff began placing hundreds of floor stickers, seat signs and other reminders throughout the Airport guiding guests to stay six feet apart in accordance with CDC guidelines. While we're doing it for health reasons, we're thinking this may be a trend that sticks around now that we see how nice it is to have more personal space. 

Clear plastic shielding at kiosks and counters: It took some getting used to but now acrylic shields separating workers and guests are becoming the norm, helping to keep airborne germs contained and increasing the overall health of the airport. We installed the shields in late April as part of our TPA Ready program. 

Face coverings for all: Love them or hate them, face masks have become an important and universally accepted way of preventing the airborne spread of COVID-19, and TPA -- as well as most airlines -- began requiring all guests and passengers to wear them this year. For those who forget them in the car, several of TPA's shops now sell them.

Converting our TPA Event Space into a medical testing site: When we opened our bright, open, airy new Event Space a couple years ago, we could have never predicted it would one day be put to good use as an innovating viral testing site for passengers. In October, TPA became the first U.S. airport to offer COVID-19 rapid antigen and PCR testing to all departing and arriving passengers, and in the first three months, we've had nearly 12,000 travelers get tested.

A more comfy place to nurse: This past fall, we opened our long-awaited new nursing rooms, providing a much more clean, private and cozy experience for our breastfeeding parents. The new rooms have comfortable seating, electrical outlets, changing tables and other features to help those with their tiniest travelers.

Lots of exciting new routes: When we saw our traffic drop by more than 90 percent in late March and early April, we couldn't have predicted that mere months later, airlines such as Silver and JetBlue would not only be resuming canceled routes but bringing new ones to TPA. Being a top U.S. leisure destination helped, as airlines have long predicted vacationers will be the first to return to the skies. Here's a video of the new route highlights.

New technology at TPA: Touchless tech became even more important in 2020 as we opened our E-gates to allow passengers to enter the shuttles without having to hand off their boarding passes to other humans, and TSA installed new touch-free scanners and processes as well. We also added new handrail cleaning machines for our escalators and continue to look for ways to make TPA a more seamlessly easy and sanitary place.

Hand sanitizers ... everywhere: If 2020 taught us anything, it's the importance of hand-washing and sanitizing. One of the first COVID-19 modifications we made in March was to add dozens of hand sanitizing dispensers throughout the Airport, giving people plenty of opportunities to kill 99.9 percent of germs on their paws.

Floors so clean, you can eat off them: Well, we wouldn't go that far, but it's safe to say TPA has never been cleaner than it is now. While cleanliness has always been high on our priority list, in April we began adding more cleaning staff and increasing cleaning schedules to ensure touchpoints, restrooms and heavily trafficked areas stayed nice and sanitized for our guests. We also added new machines and atomizers to reach those hard-to-clean areas like buttons and escalator handrails.

TPA expects passenger traffic to be approximately half of what it was during the same period last year, but with COVID-19 cases on the rise across the nation, including the Tampa Bay area, testing is critical for those planning to fly during the holiday season.

A few things to note about TPA’s COVID-19 testing site:

• Testing is available from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays and Sundays, and it is closed on Christmas Day
• The testing is available only to TPA passengers who are either departing within three days or who have arrived within three days
• The site offers both the PCR test ($150) which produces results with 24-48 hours and the rapid antigen test ($60) which produces results in 15 minutes
• Passengers who have travel plans should check with their airline or with their destination city, state or country health department site before flying to determine if a test result is required upon landing
• More information is available at https://baycare.org/tpa-testing

TPA expects traffic to pick up this weekend, though exact estimates are uncertain due to the pandemic. This coming Saturday, Dec. 19, as well as Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Jan. 3, are projected to be the busiest days, with approximately 43,000 passengers traveling through TPA on each of those days. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will see far fewer passengers with projections between 22,000 and 24,000 on those days.

Despite the lower numbers, TPA advises departing passengers to arrive at least two hours early, follow TSA guidelines for items packed in checked luggage to avoid delays, and use the Cell Phone Lot if picking up passengers to avoid circling or lingering at the curbsides.

To ensure a healthy travel experience, TPA also asks all guests to do their part by:

• Wearing a face mask properly at all times
• Washing hands frequently and using hand sanitizer
• Maintaining social distancing as much as possible
• Using touchless options and mobile boarding passes
• Checking with your airline for any additional guidelines

For more on what to expect at TPA, visit www.tampaairport.com.

We've got Tampa Bay-based coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, fashion designers, beauty products and, of course, cigars. We are the Cigar City, after all.

And now, we've made it easier than ever before to find these items. Next time you're traveling through TPA, look for the "TPA local" icon on products or displays to discover what is local to the Tampa Bay region.

Here are 10 ways you can shop (or dine) local at TPA:

1. Toasty beverages: Yes, we've got Starbucks. But we also have a wide-variety of regional coffee shops, including local options on every airside. Kahwa (Main Terminal - The Shoppes at Bayshore, Airside E - Air Essentials or Bay to Bay and Airside F - The Cafe at Mise en Place); TeBella (Main Terminal -The Shoppes at Bayshore); Cafe Con Leche (Airside C.)

2. Chilly Beverages: There's really nothing better than an airport beer - unless your airport brews their own local beer on-site. Grab a local brewski at Cigar City Brewing (Airsides C or F) or snag a Mother Kombucha (Main Terminal - The Shoppes at Bayshore) on your way out.

3. Pastries: The Tampa Bay region is home to plenty of delicious baked goods - and TPA is no exception. Chef Jeremy Duclut of Cassis Bakery in St. Pete blends classic French recipes with modern American style to offer an array of fresh pastries from scratch. Find these baked delights at illy Caffe (airsides E or F), Air Essentials (Airside E) or Bay to Bay (Airside F.)

4. Confections: Sweet tooth? Satisfy it like the locals do by snagging some decadent Toffee To Go toffee (Main Terminal - The Shoppes at Bayshore) for yourself -- or give it as a gift.  Not a toffee fan? Try some of the area's finest chocolate - made by Pinellas Chocolates. Every bar is at least 62 percent cacao and above - so you know you're getting the real thing (Shoppes at Bayshore).

5. Candles: Inhale the sweet scents, exhale the jetlag. TPA has an array of candles, melted and poured by local brands like Tipsy (The Shoppes at Bayshore - Main Terminal) and Seventh Avenue Apothecary (The Shoppes at Bayshore). These make the perfect gift to anyone on your holiday list (or yourself.)

6. Cigars: Hand rolled in historic Ybor City, Matador Tampa Cigars make for the perfect taste - or puff - of the region. Pick up one of Tampa's best cigars inside The Shoppes at Bayshore located inside the Main Terminal.

7. Restaurants: We make it easy to get a taste of Tampa Bay without even leaving the Airport. With local restaurants like Ulele, RumFish Grill, The Café by Mise en Place, Burger 21, Ducky’s, Goody Goody, Cigar City and Columbia Café, you won't run out of spots to grub. See which restaurants are currently open and where they're located here.

8. Beauty: Looking to support local brands while looking and feeling your best? Canviiy, a company that sells natural-based scalp care, got its start RIGHT HERE on the shelves of Tampa International Airport's The Shoppes at Bayshore. The company now sells in hundreds of Target stores and all across the world. Another woman-owned company, Conscious Coconut, sells organic coconut oil products while giving back to the community by supporting local and country-wide charities. 

9. Jewelry: Forgot your bling at home? Grab a TPA Bourbon and Boweties bangle (or a bunch) or shop Monya Flora for handmade women's jewelry (Main Terminal - The Shoppes at Bayshore.)

10. Sports: Bucs, Bolts, Rays and Rowdies, Tampa is getting closer and closer to becoming a titletown. Support your local teams at the Tampa Bay Sports store in the Main Terminal.

Not any more.

Earlier this month, Tampa International Airport debuted new (and long-awaited) service animal relief areas at the airsides and Main Terminal. Each pet relief area is complete with lush synthetic grass, a reassuring red fire hydrant, waste disposal bags/bins and even a drinking sink.

Each airside area is located in an enclosed space located on the gate level, meaning passengers won't need to go too far to get some relief for their pets. The four Main Terminal pet relief areas are located just outside the building on the baggage level, providing easy pre-security access for passengers and visitors with service animals.

These pet relief areas join the list of convenient amenities added to the Airport this year including water bottle filling stations and mother's nursing rooms.

Tampa International Airport is doing the same as it saw its highest passenger numbers this past Sunday since traffic plummeted in late March and early April due to COVID-19. TPA concessionaires are slowing returning staff and operating hours back to the Airport, though customer demand still has a way to go before all 70 shops and restaurants are fully open. TPA is seeing about 30 to 40 percent of its passenger traffic compared to this time of year in 2019.

Those who are traveling through TPA have far more options this fall than they did over the summer. Starbucks is now open on all four airsides and the Main Terminal, and travelers can now enjoy more sit-down restaurants at each airside. RumFish Grill, Ulele and Cigar City Brewing are now open at Airside C, TPA’s busiest terminal which serves Southwest, Alaska and Sun Country passengers. The Café by Mise en Place is open at Airside F, as is the Gasparilla Bar and illy Espressamente.

At Airside E, passengers can dine at Columbia Restaurant or pick up fast bites from Panda Express or illy. Ducky’s Sports Lounge and Pei Wei are among the options at Airside A, as is New York New York pizza.

With more passengers looking to do some shopping while they wait for their flights, The Body Shop at Airside C, Tech on the Go at Airside F and BookLink at Airside E are among the many retail stores that recently reopened at TPA.

For a complete updated list of open shops, restaurants and bars at TPA, go to https://www.tampaairport.com/shops-and-dining.

Passengers should note that the open and close times of TPA’s shops and restaurants may vary as TPA and its concessionaires continue to balance the unpredictable recovery of passenger traffic with its staffing and operational needs. All retail and restaurant employees have upped their safety and health standards, adding protocols such as temperature checks, distancing markers on the floors, masks for all employees, plastic shields at registers, frequent sanitation and hand-washing and other measures.

For more on what TPA is doing to keep its travelers and employees healthy, go to https://www.tampaairport.com/tpa-ready.

On Oct. 16, the volunteer-driven service received some much-appreciated help with a $10,000 donation from Signature Flight Support, a fixed-base operator and tenant at Tampa International Airport

If you haven't been lost, struggling or panicked at the Airport, you probably haven't encountered the Traveler's Aid desk. If you have, there's a good chance they saved your trip - and probably made your day along the way. 

Traveler's Aid provides a variety of services, including connecting travelers with immigration services or paramedics, or providing food, diapers, baby bottles, formula, toys, blankets and much more. The facility is operated by the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and serves nearly 400 passengers per week. 

"We wanted to help with something, and we know how much Traveler's Aid assists people at the Airport, so we offered to fund it," said Bill Sneesby, General Manager at Signature Flight Support. "When people come to Tampa, they will have assistance - they won't just be stranded - whether their baby needs diapers or they need to find a hotel room."

The sponsorship comes during a period where funding was low and the team was unsure how they would continue to offer the service without some sort of assistance.

The amenity is staffed by almost 40 volunteers who are recruited, trained and supervised by a full-time program coordinator. Some volunteers have been with the program since its inception nearly 30 years ago.

"The investment that Signature is making in the Traveler's Aid is going to equate to tens of thousands of travelers getting the help and support that they need during a very stressful time in their lives," said Clara Reynolds, CEO and President of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. "We are very excited about this partnership, and this is such an important investment that they are willing to make in the Tampa Bay community." 

The Traveler's Aid is open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Sunday, and is located on the Main Terminal Ticketing Level. 

TPA ranked #2 among large airports in North America by J.D. Power’s 2020 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, jumping up a spot from 2019 and continuing its streak of top-five finishes. The Airport finished #5 in 2018 and has placed in the top five since at least 2015. 

“We are extremely proud to once again be among the best airports in the country,” said TPA CEO Joe Lopano. “It’s a testament to our commitment to excellence and drive to serve our customers that we’ve managed to stay on top. I’m grateful to our team and our amazing community that makes this one of America’s favorite airports.” 

The increase in the overall satisfaction score follows TPA’s completion of the first part of a three-phase Master Plan expansion that will ultimately enable the Airport to serve 34 million annual passengers. The expansion included the addition of 70 new shops and restaurants, a Main Terminal expansion and modernization, the addition of a 1.4-mile automated people mover and a new state-of-the-art rental car center. 

Tampa International Airport routinely ranks among the top airports in North America for customer satisfaction. Recent accolades include: 

• #1 Medium-Sized Airport in the U.S. – Wall Street Journal (2019) 
• #1 in North America by ASQ – Airports Council International – North America (2020) 
• #4 U.S. Airport in Travel + Leisure (2020) 
• #6 U.S. Airport by Conde Nast Traveler (2019) 

The J.D. Power North America Airport Satisfaction Study measures overall satisfaction by examining six factors (in order of importance): terminal facilities; airport arrival/departure; baggage claim; security check; check-in/baggage check; and food, beverage and retail. 

Tampa International Airport was compared among large airports with 10 to 32.9 million passengers per year. 

The J.D. Power study is now in its 15^th year and is based on 26,058 completed surveys. The study ran from August 2019 through July 2020. 

On Sept. 8, TPA opened three new nursing rooms, including locations in the Main Terminal, Airside E and F. Additional mother's nursing rooms are slated to open on Airside A and Airside C later this year.

"Creating a seamless, comfortable experience for all of our passengers has always been one of the cornerstones of our operation here at the Airport," said Al Illustrato, Executive Vice President of Facilities at TPA. "And we're excited to add yet another layer of that with this new amenity."

The new nursing rooms offer private spaces for nursing mothers and include comfortable seating, outlets, changing tables and sinks.

Though passenger traffic has slowed down, Tampa International Airport continues to add new amenities to make travel as simple, smooth and touchless as possible. These amenities include the addition of water bottle filling stations, E-gates and CAT software at TSA checkpoints. 

Earlier this month, TPA unveiled the second of four banks of electronic gates that will help the Airport manage passengers heading to each airside. The E-gates, as they are known, allow ticketed passengers and cleared guests to gain access to the airside shuttle, replacing the current system that requires manual scanning.

The process is simple: Passengers simply scan their boarding pass and the gates swing open. If they are at the wrong gate, they will receive an error message.

E-gates allow TPA to go from two to four boarding pass scanning devices per airside, helping to speed up the process and making it faster for guests to get to their gate.

“This is a significant step in our efforts to go touchless and make the passenger experience better and faster than ever before,” said Doug Wycoff, TPA’s Senior Manager of Client and Field Services. “We know that this kind of technology – especially during a time of heightened concern over cleanliness – is critically important.”

The technology debuted at the shuttle entrance to Airside A in mid-July and at Airside C in early August. Wycoff says to expect the screening gates at Airside E and F this November. So far, the Airside A gates have processed about 85,000 passengers and employees while the Airside C gates have handled 40,000.

Aside from facilitating social distancing, the E-gates enhance security and give the Airport additional insights about the travel experience through TPA and how to make it more efficient. The screening can help identify peak usage time, for example, allowing the airport to ramp up staff appropriately.

Additionally, this technology can easily be repurposed for the future, Wycoff said.

“We know that facial recognition and biometrics is gaining steam in the United States and this technology can be easily converted to facilitate that effort,” he said. “We are proud to continue to lead the industry with forward-thinking technology to ensure the smoothest and most seamless experience for passengers.”

Already the Airport’s busiest restaurant, guests can now get "mor chikin" with just a few clicks on their mobile devices using the new Grab feature at Chick-fil-A in the Main Terminal.

This new option allows passengers to scan a QR code to check the menu, order and pay – allowing for a touch-free experience with plenty of room for social distancing. 

The popular quick serve joint’s new feature is just one example of how TPA’s shops and restaurants are going touch-free in the era of COVID-19. 

Touch-free options at TPA don't stop at Chick-fil-A, though. Other restaurants and shops throughout the Airport have introduced Apple Pay, self-checkout, Visa Contactless Pay, virtual menus and disposable paper menus. Shops and restaurants have installed acrylic shields at the registers along with social distancing floor markings. They have also upped disinfecting measures, and all employees are required to wear face masks while working.

"We continue to do all we can to keep our passengers and employees as safe as possible," said Laurie Noyes, Vice President of Concessions and Commercial Parking at TPA. "As new technology or touchless options become available, we're working with our concessionaires to make these available to our guests." 

The Airport has also installed two Ready Credit machines which allow travelers or employees to turn their cash into a pre-paid debit card, adding another low-touch payment option. The machines, located on the ticketing level, charge a $5 activation fee, allow for any amount of funds up to $1,000 to be added and aid guests in going cashless.

At the lowest point of passenger volume, only 16 shops and restaurants remained open at TPA. Today, 29 concepts are in service. The Airport team plans to continue opening restaurants as passenger numbers increase. To see which dining options are available now, visit: https://www.tampaairport.com/restaurants. 

Want to learn more about touchless options at the Airport? Check out: https://news.tampaairport.com/tpa-ready-update-5-ways-to-go-touchless-at-tpa/ 

The new Credential Authentication Technology units, known as CATs, scan IDs instead of boarding passes to validate identify, screen for fraudulence and verify flight status - all in one step.

"This state-of-the-art technology improves upon TSA's real-time detection of fraudulent identification documents such as driver's licenses and passports at checkpoints and increases efficiency by automatically verifying passenger identification," said Kirk Skinner, TSA's Federal Security Director for TPA.

Here's how it works: Travelers insert their ID in the CAT unit and the unit scans the ID and informs the officer whether the ID is valid. In most cases, travelers who approach the TSA travel document checking podium will not have to show their boarding pass because the CAT unit verifies that the traveler is ticketed to travel out of the airport for a flight that day.

There are nine CAT units, at least one per airside, at Tampa International Airport. 

"This new technology will further enhance the guest experience while ensuring the safety of all," said John Tiliacos, Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service at TPA. "We are grateful for our partners at TSA and the exceptional job they do in keeping all of our passengers, guests and employees safe on a daily basis."

CAT units authenticate several thousand types of IDs including passports, military common access cards, retired military ID cards, Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler ID cards, uniformed services ID cards, permanent resident cards, U.S. visas and driver's licenses and photo IDs issued by state motor vehicle departments.

TSA has in recent years been adopting more efficient and sophisticated biometric technology, designed to reduce human error, increase safety and incorporate more touchless procedures. 

TPA claimed the #4 spot for 2020 in the publication’s annual World’s Best Awards survey, which asks Travel & Leisure readers to rate airports on a variety of topics including access, check-in/security, restaurants/bars, shopping and design.

The ranking is up one spot from 2019 and is tied with 2018.

Tampa Airport routinely ranks among the top airports in the country in satisfaction surveys, including top-five rankings in J.D. Power, the Wall Street Journal, Conde Nast Traveler and the Airport Service Quality rankings from Airports Council International – North America.

Thomsen’s hand rail cleaning system is just one new piece of technology the Airport has launched during a time when cleanliness is top of mind for all travelers.

The Airport, in conjunction with Flagship Janitorial Cleaning Services, has deployed multiple new technological devices to assist in sanitation efforts.

Among the new technology:

Kaivac: Used for restroom cleaning and disinfecting. This system allows for touchless cleaning of restroom floors and large surfaces using a pressure washing method.

Karcher misters: Sprays disinfectant evenly on all surfaces, allowing for cleaning of large areas in a small amount of time.

Victory electrostatic sprayers: Positively charged particles adhere to surfaces evenly. Used to disinfect touchpoints and surfaces such as elevator buttons and tabletops.

T7 Autonomous auto scrubbers: Washes floors without a driver. The auto scrubber is programmed to scrub an area while the employee can perform other duties.

There are also plans to install a "smart restroom" software from TRAX Analytics which will provide insight onto restroom cleanliness by monitoring traffic flow in and out of facilities later this year.

To learn more about what the Airport is doing to keep facilities safe and clean, visit https://www.tampaairport.com/tpa-ready

Fresh new ticketing counters

TPA is in the process of modernizing the dated ticketing counters on the Transfer Level, including all back walls, ceilings, lights, monitors and carpets. The new spaces will be brighter and cleaner, with updated technology.

So far, six ticket counters are complete with another four to go. The entire project is expected to be complete by Fall 2020.

TPA gets in-demand amenities: Mother’s nursing rooms / Service animal relief areas

We’ve talked about these new amenities a lot – and for good reason. Mother’s nursing rooms and more convenient service animal relief areas are two of the most requested amenities (right up there with water bottle filling stations, which we’ve also recently added to each airside).

We’re currently installing mother’s nursing rooms in the Main Terminal, Airside A, Airside E and Airside F. We will also be adding one at Airside C at a later date.

All mother’s nursing rooms are expected to open in late July or early August.

Meanwhile, crews are working on service animal relief areas in the Main Terminal and all four airsides. All service animal areas except for Airside F are expected to open in early August.

TPA’s express curbsides speed along

TPA is adding 16 new curbside lanes for passengers with no checked luggage, including eight on the Blue side and eight on the Red side.

This project will ultimately help reduce congestion and make it easier for passengers to get to and from their gates.

Construction on the Blue side curbs is well underway, with an anticipated completion date in late 2021. Crews have finished all the demolition work, including an old rental car building, and have poured new foundations for the roadway foundation and a new building that will transport guests from the curbsides to the Transfer Level.

There’s a lot of other underground work happening, too: New elevator shaft foundations, storm drain infrastructure and other building foundations.

SkyCenter facilities moving quickly

Progress at the SkyCenter development site – located near the Rental Car Center – is flying along.

At the SkyCenter atrium, crews are busy working on interior finishes, landscaping and roadway work as the building approaches completion.

Next door, at the nine-story SkyCenter One office building, crews with contractor J.E. Dunn are rapidly placing structural steel beams. The outer glass walls are expected to get installed later this month with the entire building exterior – the building’s envelope, in construction terms – slated to wrap up this fall.

Wider is better: TPA expanding main entrance/exit roadways

To handle future passenger growth, we are expanding the inbound and outbound George J. Bean Parkway. This will eventually allow the Airport to serve upwards of 34 million passengers per year.

Work on this project has accelerated in recent months due to reduced traffic.

In addition to the extra lanes, we’re also adding a new Economy Parking Road exit, making it easier to leave the airport from the Economy Garage, Rental Car Center and SkyCenter development area.

Taxiway A bridge is A-OK

This is the only airfield project on the list – but it’s a biggie.

Crews are currently building a brand new Taxiway A bridge, which will add valuable new connectivity between the Airport’s east and west runways.

The bridge improves the overall safety of the airfield by reducing potential interactions between aircraft and other airfield traffic.

Like many of the other projects, it’s projected to potentially finish early due to reduced traffic (in this case, fewer planes).

However, traveler behavior still remains the most important factor in reducing germs at airports and aircraft, and following basic CDC guidelines can go a long way in staying healthy. Health experts recommend washing or sanitizing hands frequently and avoiding hand-to-hand contact with others as you move through public spaces. Here are five suggestions to help you go touchless at TPA:

Download your boarding pass on your cell phone. Most airlines offer mobile boarding passes, eliminating the need to print passes at kiosks or hand paper back and forth to agents, and you can use the mobile boarding pass at the shuttle e-gates, TSA checkpoint and airline boarding scanner.

Use carry-on luggage instead of checking bags. While sometimes checking bags is unavoidable, passengers should pack their items in carry-on luggage if they can, which eliminates the number of hands touching their bags and also allows them to bypass baggage claim areas, where larger groups tend to congregate in close-knit spaces.

Use credit cards and touchless payment whenever possible. All of TPA’s shops, restaurants and kiosks accept credits cards, and some allow you to swipe your card in front of sensors to pay without ever pressing a button. If you do have to exchange cards or cash with an employee, be sure to wash your or sanitize your hands immediately after.

Grab a paper towel before touching door handles in the restroom. The TPA restroom experience is largely touch-free, thanks to sensor-activated faucets and toilets. Experts recommend skipping the automated hand dryer to avoid germs blowing around inside the restroom, and instead, grab a paper towel to use while touching handles or drying your hands.

Bring your own water bottle. All TPA Airsides now have new water bottle filling stations, eliminating the need to purchase water or drinks after you get through the security checkpoints. Bring your own reusable bottle and stick it under the sensor-activated stream to get your refill.

Got any other touch-free travel tips? Comment below!

After soliciting digital chalk art drawings from May 5 - 12, the Airport team ultimately received 557 submissions, selecting 119. The art serves to inspire and uplift both the traveling public and TPA's own essential employees.

"This initiative was really positive for us, not only because of the incredible images we received, but because we got the opportunity to bring the community together during these difficult times," said Chris Minner, Executive Vice President of Marketing. "While our passenger numbers may be down, we're still an important part of this community - and we're grateful to help show off what makes Tampa Bay so special."

Roughly 80 vehicles of chalk art connoisseurs stopped by Saturday's event, driving by the screens or taking a beat to park and watch the images scroll by. 

The selected pieces will live on digital screens throughout the Airport for the next month.

Check out some of the selected pieces: 

Among the most requested: Water bottle filling stations.

Yes, they're finally here.

TPA has added - or is in the process of adding - water bottle filling stations, mother's nursing rooms and service animal relief areas to each of the airsides. Mother's nursing rooms and service animal relief areas will also be added to the Main Terminal.

The water bottle filling stations offer a touch-less option to easily fill a reusable bottle with cold, filtered H2O post-security, and have been a source of inquiry from the Airport’s audience for quite a while. The amenity comes just in time for the Airport's TPA Ready initiative to provide passengers with a clean and safe traveling experience throughout the Airport.

In total, the Airport will have eight stations – two at each Airside - when the project is complete.

Construction on the nursing rooms and service animal relief areas continues, adding a comfortable, private space for nursing moms while the pet areas give Fido a convenient pre- or post-flight potty break. TPA will eventually install one nursing room per airside and one in the Main Terminal.

Both projects should be completed by late July 2020.

Today, Tampa International Airport launched a campaign to collect the best, most creative sidewalk chalk art around the community to put on display as inspiration for TPA’s travelers and employees.

 The best works will be showcased on the Airport’s massive Cell Phone Waiting Lot screens, among other locations.

Here’s how it works: Choose a slab of sidewalk, get creative with inspirational or encouraging art (and messages) and upload a picture here.

Submissions will be accepted online from May 5 through May 12.

On Saturday, May 16 from 10 a.m. until noon, TPA invites the community to check out the art as it is displayed on the large screens at the Cell Phone Lot. During this viewing opportunity, visitors are being asked to remain in their vehicles and follow CDC social distancing guidelines as they slowly drive past the screens.

Those whose art is selected to be showcased will be notified via email that their work will be displayed, but all are welcome to join in on the viewing.

The new restrooms feature deeper stalls – and more of them – with modern finishes and improved amenities. These include floor-to-ceiling tile, backlit mirrors, touchless sink faucets and Dyson hand dryers.

The work is part of a large project to modernize and update TPA’s airside restrooms. As part of this work, guests can expect to see periodic restroom closures during construction. 

The airport is also working enhancing several other airside amenities, including:

• Two new water bottle filling stations on each airside
• New nursing rooms on each airside and in the Main Terminal
• New service animal relief areas

The prestigious 2019 Airport Service Quality Award, which is based off of thousands of passenger surveys throughout the year, is considered one of the industry’s highest accolades, with nearly 499 airports participating across 95 different countries.

“Tampa Airport’s goal is to provide our guests with the highest level of customer service each and every day,” said Airport CEO Joe Lopano. “As the gateway to the west coast of Florida, we want our guests’ first and last impression of our region to be a memorable one. I am incredibly proud of the team who made this impressive accomplishment possible and I am grateful for their tireless hard work in making this airport run smoothly.”

TPA won the award along with Dallas Love Field Airport for North American airports serving between 15 and 25 million passengers per year

The award recognizes those airports around the world that deliver the best customer experience in the opinion of their own passengers.

This is the second major customer service accolade for Tampa International Airport in recent months.

Late last year, The Wall Street Journal ranked Tampa International Airport #1 among medium-sized airports in the U.S. The ranking, in particular, recognized TPA’s world-class convenience, recent renovations, reimagined concessions program and the overall cleanliness of the facility.

Tampa Airport has maintained top customer service marks while serving a growing number of guests and flights. For Fiscal Year 2019, TPA served a record 22.2 million guests.

To accommodate this growth, the Airport is in the midst of a three-phase Master Plan expansion that will ultimately allow for up to 34 million annual passengers. Phase 2, which includes new express curbs and a commercial development area, is underway. Phase 3 includes a new 16-gate airside, which will accommodate domestic and international passengers.

Now, Tampa International Airport will have its own iconic centerpiece: A 21-foot pink flamingo that will greet visitors passing through the Airport’s Main Terminal.

The larger-than-life sculpture is one of seven new art commissions approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board on Thursday as part of a public art program designed to enhance and beautify TPA’s new facilities. 

HOME, by Matthew Mazzotta, is a massive, floor-to-ceiling sculpture that depicts a hand-sculpted resin and fiberglass flamingo as it gently dips its head beneath the surface of the water. The immersive installation, located prominently near the Shoppes at Bayshore, transports viewers underwater, inviting them to walk up and share a simple moment in the life of one of Florida’s most well-known birds.

The sculpture is expected to be installed in November.

“I think we will find that HOME is aptly named as it will evoke a sense of place for those that experience the artwork,” said Robin Nigh, the City of Tampa’s Manager of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and a member of TPA’s Public Art Committee. “The artwork should provide a visual respite; a sense of home for returning travelers and a sense of arrival for visitors. It is unique, quiet, beautiful, kitsch and fun all at once. HOME will carry the meaning of what individuals bring to it, very much like one’s ‘real’ home.”

Tampa Airport’s public art program strives to transform and enhance the experience of millions of guests each and every year.

“We are more than a place that people simply pass through – we are the first and last impression of the Tampa Bay region,” said Airport CEO Joe Lopano. “Public art is critical to creating a sense of place and leaving our guests with a unique and engaging experience.”

The seven art commissions approved by the Board were selected from 734 total respondents, including many local, national and international artists. Select artists were then shortlisted and invited to submit a proposal for a specific location. The Public Art Committee then presented its final recommendations to the Board.

Two additional commissions will be considered by the Board at a later date.

“The artists selected for the second phase of art commissions continues a commitment to bring the highest quality of artistic excellence and experience to airport visitors,” said Margaret Miller, Director and Professor of the USF Institute for Research in Art and a member of the Airport’s Public Art Committee. “Tampa International Airport demonstrates the value of public art in creating a world-class city.”

Executive Vice President of Marketing Chris Minner, who also sits on the Public Art Committee, says he thinks these works will make TPA’s new spaces distinctive and memorable.

“Every airport has terminals, seating, gates and travelers – and every airport functions as a gateway,” said Minner. “But how this initial experience happens – how it feels during those welcomes and goodbyes – is what elevates our shared experience and invites our travelers to become true representatives of our region.”

The other winning artists include:

• Soo Sunny Park, of Hanover, N.H., who will produce a hanging sculpture in the new SkyCenter atrium.
• Jason Hackenwerth, of St. Petersburg, Fla., who is creating a hanging sculpture entitled Cove for the third and fourth floor of the SkyCenter Atrium.
• Jason Bruges, of London, England, who is creating a mixed media mural entitled Cloud Ascent to adorn the east wall of the red vertical circulation building.
• Catherine Wagner, of Oakland, C.A., who is creating a large mural featuring photos that are laser-etched onto anodized aluminum panels, for the northwest wall of the blue vertical circulation building.
• Jason Middlebrook, of Hudson, N.Y., who is producing a mural featuring a composition of local flora and fauna, for the northwest wall of the blue vertical circulation building.
• Aaron Stephan, of Portland, Maine, who created a hanging sculpture out of ladders entitled Paths Rising, for the Main Terminal helix space between the Main Terminal and SkyConnect station.

Wordier Than Thou, a Tampa Bay-based social network that hosts open mic and writing events, visited TPA this past Saturday, beginning the writing journey at Airside F’s Cigar City Taproom and viewing Esterio Segura’s Good Bye My Love Tampa Seven Days a Week and Daniel Canogar’s Tendril. The writers than moved on to the Main Terminal and rode the SkyConnect train, stopping to see various works of art along the way and at the Rental Car Center.

“It was a fun day of art and words and people watching and airport beer,” Wordier Than Thou founder Tiffany Razzano wrote on the group’s Facebook page. “Many thanks to TPA's helpful and welcoming team who met us before we got started and gave each writer a moleskin notebook.”

The All Access program is now available for up to 100 people daily, seven days a week. To sign up, go to: www.tampaairport.com/tpaallaccess.

Beginning this week, TPA is debuting the first set of electronic gates at the entrance to the Airside A shuttle lobby. The gates will allow ticketed passengers and cleared guests to gain access to the airside shuttle, replacing the current system that requires manual scanning.

The process is simple: Passengers simply scan their boarding pass and the gates swing open. If they are at the wrong gate, they will receive an error message.

E-gates allow TPA to go from two to four boarding pass scanning devices per airside, helping to speed up the process and making it faster for guests to get to their gate.

After a brief pilot period, the E-gates are expected to be deployed at the remaining three shuttle entrances later this year.

The two brought an even bigger history to life this week as they installed a new art exhibit in Tampa International Airport’s Main Terminal that includes “Hope Prevails,” a large painting depicting a scene from the 1923 Rosewood massacre, a racially motivated attack on a town of primarily black citizens in reaction to reports of an black drifter’s attack on a white woman. The massacre was a largely forgotten part of Florida history until it surfaced in media reports in the 1980s.

Jenkins, however, never forgot. She first learned of the violent attacks when she was 5 years old and her mother sat her and her siblings down to tell them the story of Rosewood 20 years earlier. Jenkins’ aunt Mahulda was targeted in the attacks and taken from Rosewood to the nearby town of Sumner where she was assaulted.

The mob, thought to be led by white men connected to the Ku Klux Klan, also burned down several structures in Rosewood as some black citizens fought back and elderly citizens and children fled to escape. The town of Rosewood was abandoned and survivors rarely spoke of it for decades.

In 1993, the Florida Legislature commissioned a report on the incident after surviving ancestors such as Jenkins came forward. As a result of the findings, Florida became the first U.S. state to compensate survivors and their descendants for damages incurred because of racial violence. Jenkins is now the President and CEO of The Real Rosewood, a non-profit dedicated to preserving memories of the tragedy.

When Jermaine, a native Floridian artist, met Jenkins, he knew he had an important mission to deliver through his work. He spent two years researching and planning before painting “Hope Prevails,” which portrays a woman ushering a child through moss-covered trees and foliage and a man with sack of belongings.

“To me, it shows an escape from suffering and oppression, much like we associate with slavery,” Jermaine said. “I’m thrilled to be able to share this piece of black history [at TPA] because I think it’s important to remember our past, good and bad.”

Jenkins said it’s an honor to be able to share her story and honor her aunt and other family members who lived through the horror of Rosewood. In Jermaine’s painting, she sees the female figure as her aunt was many years ago, staying strong and helping others, even after the ordeal of her attack.

“My mother wanted me to keep this history alive and include her sister in that history,” she said. “We need to know the history so it doesn’t repeat itself. There are several Rosewoods that happened out there that we don’t even know about.”

The “Hope Prevails” piece and four other paintings by Jermaine will be on display in the Main Terminal SkyConnect atrium between the Hard Rock Cafe and P.F. Chang’s through the month of February.

Created by a company Aerocloud and perfected by TPA’s IT and Operations department over the past year, the predictive analytics program pools data from a variety of resources, allowing the Airport to measure passenger volumes at arrival and departure curbs, TSA and Customs checkpoints and the gates with more than 90 percent accuracy.

The information gives TPA insight into where to deploy resources in managing security checkpoints, restroom and facility cleaning, curbside management and concessions planning. This was invaluable to the Operations team during this past Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods, which went remarkably smooth despite record passenger numbers, said TPA Director of Operations Adam Bouchard.

“This has been a huge benefit in helping us plan and proactively address situations that might arise when you have large numbers of passengers arriving at the Airport at once,” Bouchard said. “Operationally, it’s been an incredible asset to have this real-time data, especially as TPA continues to grow.”

Previously, TPA was able to use flight data and load factors to account for peak and slow periods in the terminals and at the curbsides but couldn’t always account for delays, diversions and other factors. The Aerocloud system, Bouchard said, pulls its data from a number of sources including its own “special sauce” to determine those numbers with remarkable accuracy.

The IT and Operations teams hope to continue perfecting the tool and eventually help other departments, such as Concessions and Maintenance, incorporate it into their planning as well.

TPA’s efforts include the construction of a new bike and pedestrian path that will later connect into a regional trail network, as well as new covered bike parking and repair stations.

“We are tremendously honored to be named the first bike-friendly airport in the country,” said Airport CEO Joe Lopano. “We’re big believers in transportation options that offer an alternative to cars and improve connectivity, reduce transportation costs and promote wellness and sustainability. Cycling can achieve all of those goals – and that’s why it is so important to support it for the 10,000 people who work at the airport as well as travelers.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, who also serves on the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board, agreed.

“Make no mistake — the Tampa International Airport is the absolute best airport in the country and this designation by the League of American Bicyclists just further proves that,” said Castor. “Providing transit options to and from the airport not only for their passengers but for their world class staff is paramount for an airport of this caliber.”

The Airport received the bronze Bicycle Friendly Business award from the League – an honor given to organizations contributing to building a more bike-friendly America through engineering and education.

Tampa International Airport is doing just that, and more is planned.

The Airport is in the midst of building a bicycle and pedestrian trail that will loop around the Airport’s new SkyCenter development and Cell Phone Waiting Lot, eventually connecting Tampa Airport into a wider regional trail network.

The Airport’s new office building, SkyCenter One, will also have indoor bicycle commuter facilities and amenities that support employees who want to bike to work. TPA is in the process of installing eight new bike racks and a bike repair fix-it station at the Rental Car Center/Transit curb, and people who use TPA’s North Employee Parking Lot near Hillsborough Avenue will also have improved and covered bike parking, and a bike repair station.

The fix-it repair stations were funded by the Westshore Alliance through a Florida Department of Transportation grant.

The Airport also supports cycling in a variety of other ways, including building bikes in support of the Tampa-based non-profit, onbikes, providing bicycle-safety and bike path development updates at lunch-and-learn sessions for airport employees, and branding its own bike lights.

The emphasis on cycling ties into TPA’s growing emphasis on sustainability.

Tampa International Airport, and its three General Aviation airports, are the only airports in Florida and the southeastern United States with an Airport Carbon Accreditation certification from the Airports Council International’s Airport Carbon Accreditation program. TPA, in part, has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 10.7 percent per passenger, according to the latest data. In addition, TPA offers nearly two dozen electric vehicle charging stations, recently added solar panels in partnership with Tampa Electric, operates a fleet of natural gas vehicles and uses reclaimed water for all irrigation and cooling towers.

In 2019, the Airport processed approximately 375,000 bags from the Rental Car Center location, shattering the previous year’s total of 270,000 bags.

The service, which prints bag tags and boarding passes for TPA’s largest air carriers, including American, Delta, United, Southwest and Spirit, will expand later this month to include JetBlue. The Airport is also adding three new kiosks, bringing the total to 12, to better serve TPA’s guests.

Remote bag check allows passengers at the Rental Car Center to check their bags and get their boarding passes before they board the SkyConnect train and make their way to their gate, alleviating the stress of hauling luggage through the Airport and allowing passengers to skip the ticket counters at the Main Terminal.

Main Terminal:

Picking up a friend or loved one at TPA? Come on in, stay a while! Our Main Terminal boasts lots of food options from fast and fresh like Wendy’s and Chick-fil-a, to sit-down dining at Hard Rock and P. F. Chang’s – each with healthy options AND outdoor dining terraces! Our faves:

Wendy’s – Apple Pecan Chicken Salad (570 calories)

It’s so much more than just a salad. Indulge in the crunchiness of candied pecans and crisp Granny-Smith apples with a bite of juicy grilled chicken and blue cheese crumbles. Do we have your attention yet? The salad comes with a sweet pomegranate dressing and adds up to 570 calories! Not so hungry? Order the half portion and cut your calories to just under 300.

P. F. Chang’s – Beef and broccoli (670 calories and shareable)

Fiending for some protein with an Asian twist? P.F. Chang’s Beef with broccoli offers a full portion of flank steak seared to goodness with ginger, soy and green onions. Get your veggie fix with crunchy broccoli for only 670 calories. P.F. Chang’s serves their entrees family-style, so it’s meant to be shared – meaning you might have some calories left for that fortune cookie.

Airside A:

Burger 21 – Impossible burger (474 calories)

Yes, it IS possible and it tastes like real beef! It’s no news that Burger21 has great handhelds, but did you know they serve a sustainable option without the guilt? The impossible burger, which is a plant-based burger patty with red onion, vine-ripened tomato and lettuce, comes on toasted brioche bun and tastes like the real deal with only 474 calories! Vegan? Get it on the wheat or lettuce bun.

*OR try the black bean burger - pictured below. 

Pei Wei – Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl (440 calories)

It’s Poke, ok? This delicious entrée is a full bowl of sushi-grade ahi tuna poke with Sriracha lime aioli, toasted sesame seeds, scallions and Asian slaw served with wonton chips. Coming in at only 440 calories, go ahead and get the edamame, too!

Airside C:

Ulele – Avocado Toast (605 calories)

If you didn’t know that every restaurant at our Airsides serves breakfast, now you know. Got an early flight and want to keep things light? Stop by the restaurant well-known to Tampa residents for its Native American, unique cuisine, and enjoy some avocado toast! The popular menu item keeps things simple with multigrain toast, avocado and two poached eggs drizzled with red pepper extra virgin olive oil. This morning treat has 605 calories and enough protein to hold you over, even on those cross-country flights.

RumFish Grill – Grouper Sandwich (860 calories - with bun and sauce)

Come to Tampa for the beaches and weather, stay for the seafood. This sandwich serves up a whopping portion of grouper, spilling over the bun, atop onion, tomato, lettuce and remoulade. Being super good? Toss the bun and sauce and you’ll cut your calories to a mere 280!

Airside E:

Four Green Fields – Potato Leek Soup (525 - bowl, 350 - cup)

TPA’s Four Green Fields, around the corner from Airside E’s security checkpoint, serves up traditional Irish pub food, and even has some healthy options! Our choice: the Potato Leek Soup. This vegan-friendly Irish staple is sure to warm the soul and has only 350 calories per cup.

Panda Express – Black Pepper Chicken (280 calories)

Panda Express might not come to mind when you’re considering healthy options, but all meat options at this Asian to-go spot come in under 500 calories each serving (yes, even the orange chicken!) Try out the black pepper chicken for an oriental twist on grilled chicken, prepared with celery, onions & fresh ground black pepper, tossed in a wok with a mild ginger soy sauce. Starving? Order a double portion, and you’ll still only be at 560 calories!

*OR try the Kung Pao Chicken pictured below

Airside F:

The Café by Mise en Place – Pan Seared Salmon (707 calories - full entree)

If you’ve dined at the Mise en Place street location in South Tampa, you know that this local gem lives up to its name. “Mise en Place,” translates to “everything in its place,” which both the Airport and street locations of the restaurant exemplify in their food, presentation and atmosphere. The French-style cuisine masters the construction of unique dishes like our favorite – the Pan Seared Salmon, served with curry green apple vinaigrette, steamed jasmine rice, grilled asparagus, roasted roma tomatoes. This full entrée will set you back 707 healthy calories, and is well-worth every one of them.

Yogurtology – all yogurts (under 160 calories)

Want something sweet that won’t ruin your diet? Fro-yo is always the answer. All of the frozen yogurt options at Yogurtology on Airside F ring in under 160 calories per serving! The lowest start at just 80 calories for a half cup, meaning more room for yummy toppings like fresh fruit, Boba or assorted nuts.

Want to choose your own favorites? Check out our shopping and dining guide. 

What's your favorite healthy go-to option at TPA? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

From one of the worst recessions on record to unprecedented success, it’s been a decade to remember at Tampa International Airport.

Here are ten of the most transformative events of the past decade:

JANUARY 1, 2011: The decade began – or nearly began – with the arrival of a new CEO - Joe Lopano. With a mandate to grow international travel and reinforce TPA as an economic driver of the community, Lopano has been at the helm during a period of historic transformation. Under his watch, the Authority now serves roughly 22.2 million annual passengers and has an annual economic impact of $14.4 billion – all while undergoing the largest construction expansion in Airport history.

MAY 25, 2012: Edelweiss Air launched its inaugural flight to Zurich, giving TPA a nonstop connection to mainland Europe and kicking off a period of rapid international expansion. TPA has seen a 193 percent increase in international passengers since 2010 and has added new nonstop flights to Panama City, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Cuba and the Bahamas.

Aug. 27-Aug. 30, 2012: In the summer of 2012, Tampa played host to the Republican National Convention, and Tampa International Airport was up to the challenge. The Airport helped welcome thousands of guests, serving as the first and last impression of the Tampa Bay region. Other major events over the past decade: The International Indian Film Academy Awards in April 2014 (India’s Academy Awards) and the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2017.

APRIL 4, 2013: The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved the 2012 Master Plan update, launching the Airport’s three-phase Master Plan expansion. When complete, the Airport will have the capacity for 34 million annual passengers in its current footprint. The plan called for the construction of a new automated people mover, rental car center, expanded pick-up and drop-off curbsides, commercial development, and a 16-gate airside, among other projects.

APRIL 27, 2013: Tampa International Airport hosted its first-ever First 5K on the Runway, deepening the Airport’s roots in the community and raising money for the United Way Suncoast. TPA has now held seven fun runs on the runway, hosting 12,226 participants. The Airport has raised $1,000,345 for the United Way, thanks in large part to the annual event.

FEBRUARY 11, 2016: TPA, in partnership with Tampa Electric, unveiled a new 2-megawatt solar array, ushering in a new focus on sustainability. Reducing the Airport’s carbon footprint is central to the airport’s mission. Today, the Airport participates in a variety of green initiatives that include: a fleet of compressed natural gas vehicles, two dozen electric vehicle charging stations, energy-efficient lights and windows, power-conserving escalators, water bottle filling stations and widespread use of reclaimed water. Since 2011, the Airport has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions per passenger by more than 10 percent and its potable water use by more than 20 percent.

FEBRUARY 16, 2017: Tampa International Airport has bulked up its west coast offerings, adding nonstop service to Seattle, San Diego and San Francisco. The San Francisco service aboard United, which launched Feb. 16, 2017, finally connected Tampa Bay to the Bay area. The route had previously been the most underserved in the country.

DECEMBER 31, 2017: The final passenger numbers for 2017 tallied 19,154,957, an all-time record for the Airport that surpassed the previous record set in 2007. TPA broke another record in 2018 and is on track do so again in 2019.

FEBRUARY 14, 2018: The Airport put an exclamation point on Phase 1 of the expansion with the grand opening of the SkyConnect and Rental Car Center. The two projects, which represented the lion’s share of Phase 1, were central to reducing the Airport’s congestion and expanding the overall capacity. Sixteen months later, leaders broke ground on innovative express lanes around the terminal, a key component of Phase 2 of the Master Plan expansion.

FEBRUARY 16, 2019: About a year after the debut of the Rental Car Center and SkyConnect, TPA cut the ribbon on its ambitious new concessions program, featuring 70 new shops and restaurants. The new program gave the Airport more of a focus on local shops and restaurants, helping to infuse a taste of the Tampa Bay region.

Wanna share one of your favorite TPA memories from the last decade? Comment below!

The new lot, located adjacent to the old facility, features significant upgrades to the flight information displays, new restroom facilities, including a family restroom, eight electric vehicle charging stations and a water bottle filling station.

The water bottle station and electric vehicle charging builds on TPA’s commitment to sustainability. TPA now has 22 charging stations located throughout the campus. The Airport is in the process of adding water bottle filling stations to each airside.

Just like the old lot, the new one also features free WiFi and convenient vending machines.

Tampa International Airport is expecting to handle 1.5 million passengers this holiday season, which runs from Dec. 18 to Jan. 6.

Visitors picking up family or friends are asked to wait the Cell Lot until their guest has called and is waiting at the curbside. Parking and waiting are not allowed at the curbside.

For more traveler tips, please visit TPA’s holiday hub: https://www.tampaairport.com/holiday-hub

December 12^th

Conscious Coconut vendor in store testing product

December 13th

Canviiy Scalp Bliss vendor in store with surprises and discounts

Bourbon and Bowties vendor in store

December 14^th

TeBella samples, giveaway introducing seasonal flavors

December 15^th:

Kahwa coffee samples

December 16^th

Toffee To Go vendor in store sampling product

Goodnight Tampa Author Book Signing

Rituals (new beauty product) representative offering 10% discount to all passengers

December 17^th

Eat Pray Get Well book signing and snack samples

December 18^th

Mother Kombucha samples

December 19^th

TeBella giveaways and free tea samples of Gingerbread & Peppermint Bark

December 20^th

Tea Forte presentation and giveaways

Tommy Bahama giveaways

December 21^st

Italian Venchi chocolate samples

Humadorables by Susan Cigar Box Purses presentation

December 22nd

Kahwa coffee samples and presentation

December 23^rd

Free Polaroid photo shoot with instant photo giveaway

December 24th

Zico coconut water samples

Core Power samples

Yup (lactose-free super milk) samples

Like what you see? Check out our WayPointe TPA Holiday Gift Guide here. 

On Thursday, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority approved the addition of the three frequently requested upgrades throughout the Airport.

“I’m thrilled we will be able to provide these services for our guests," said Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. "Tampa International Airport has long been known for providing an outstanding guest experience and these new amenities build on that legacy of putting our passengers first."

Each of the airsides – A, C, E, and F – will get service animal relief area and two water bottle fill stations. Airside A, C and E will get nursing rooms - with plans calling for Airside C to receive the amenity during a future restroom renovation. The Main Terminal will see an additional nursing room and four service animal relief areas.

The project, included in TPA’s capital budget, will begin later this month and is expected to be completed in July.

The mother’s nursing rooms will feature comfortable seating, baby-changing station, sink, power and a trash receptacle, and are designed to be a comfortable, relaxing space.

The service animal relief areas will be located just outside each airsides on elevated decks. The facilities include artificial turf – complete with a drainage system – for service animals to relieve themselves. A hose station, sink and trash cans will be located nearby.

Finally, the water bottle filling stations will replace the two existing drinking fountains on each airside, providing convenient water for all guests regardless of airline.