• Arrive two hours early: The most sure-fire way to make your travel experience a good one is to arrive early. Tampa International Airport and the TSA advice arriving at the Airport at least two hours in advance, allowing ample time to park, navigate security and get settled at the gate. If this is your first time flying since before the pandemic, it may be a good idea to revisit TSA’s guidelines and check out some of the agency’s top travel tips.
• Wear a mask: Mask wearing while at the Airport – and while flying – is mandatory despite recent changes to the CDC guidelines. This mandate could change in the future, and TPA will keep you up-to-date with the latest guidelines. Click here to see the latest info about flying out of TPA during COVID-19.
• Online parking: Want the cheapest Airport parking rates and a touchless transaction? Guests can now book TPA’s parking online and save! Visit the Airport’s online parking system, register for an account and book today! Anyone creating an account between May 11 and May 24 will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card for free airfare! 

“We’re always joking around with each other,” Officer Tremblay said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The big announcement, which is definitely real: Tremblay has been named the Tampa International Airport Police Department Officer of the Year. He will be recognized at the virtual Sykes Heroes Officer of the Year ceremony on May 6.

Chief Charlie Vazquez selected Tremblay for the honor based his work with the selection committee of the Airport’s Public Safety Dispatch and Records Management System. The system will have a positive impact on both the police department and Airport Operations Center for years to come.

In 2020, Tremblay volunteered to serve on the team that would select a new $1.25 million public safety software system. In addition to evaluating the technical aspects of the project, Tremblay also met with stakeholders, gathered feedback and created many of the templates that enable the system to function as efficiently as possible for the officers. As the RMS Subject Matter Expert, he continues to provide users with the necessary 16 hours of training required to operate the system.

Tremblay says that his participation on the project team was a natural fit.

“I’ve always been interested in computers and electronics, ever since I was kid,” says Tremblay. “I had a computer in my room, years before it was common for kids to have computers.”

In fact, when Tremblay was contemplating a new career early on, he was looking into college courses in electronics. That’s when his dad reminded him of his childhood fascination with detective work.

Tremblay thought about it, and decided to pursue a career in law enforcement.

He served as a detention deputy in Hillsborough County for more than nine years, when he says that it was time to transition into law enforcement. He enrolled in school to become a certified officer and went to college at night after his regular shift.

Tremblay says that the Airport Police Department’s patrol style, with officers dedicated to a specific location, is a perfect fit for him. He laughs when he says it’s reminiscent of growing up in the small town of Clarksville, TN where “everybody knows everybody.” His social nature of walking and talking allows him to get to know his fellow employees while patrolling his beat, the Airport’s new Rental Car Center.

“It’s community-style policing, which is very effective.” says Tremblay. “They get to know me and know that they can reach out and talk to me when they see something that looks out of place.”

He says that the combination of current duties as a patrol officer as well as project manager and trainer for the new dispatch and records management software system, have brought all of his skills together and it’s very rewarding.

When his patrol shift is over, Tremblay says that he enjoys spending time with his fiancé Kim and two young children. And after hours, he says, it’s time to relax and get back to his love of electronics.

“When the kids are asleep, Kim and I break out the Mario Kart,” he laughs. “It’s just our thing.”

Available positions include opportunities with the TPA's shops, restaurants, rental car operators, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority and others.

On the concessions side, some employers are offering incentives, such as signing bonuses, and annual memberships to popular streaming services. Filling these positions is critical to expand hours of service and dining options as passengers return to the skies in greater numbers. Tampa International Airport has averaged about 55,000 passengers per day since April – up from about 3,200 a day in April 2020.

The available positions feature a range of skills and management levels, primarily at the Airport’s shops and restaurants, including cooks, baristas and bartenders to sales associates, supervisors and shift managers. The Aviation Authority is looking to fill several maintenance, traffic and dispatch positions.

“Whether you're a barista or working behind the scenes, you are part of the TPA family and play a critical role in making this one of America's favorite airports," said John Tiliacos, TPA's Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. "Our passenger numbers are picking up dramatically and it's important that we ramp up our staffing levels throughout the Airport to provide our guests with the level of customer service that they’ve come to expect at TPA. We're excited to welcome you to our team and to the best airport in the country!”

Please click here for a breakdown of all available positions at TPA’s shops and restaurants, and the corresponding pay ranges for each. Click here for additional information on available positions with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

Hiring Day event at a glance:

• Date: May 4
• Time: 9 a.m.-Noon
• Location: Level 3, Main Terminal (in between Hard Rock and P.F. Chang’s)
• No advance registration required; bring two forms of ID to get hired on the spot
• Parking validated (park in the Short Term Garage)
• A virtual Hiring Day event is also scheduled for 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Click here to register.

"Being a frequent traveler myself, I liked the idea of assisting travelers, sometimes at their most harried, exhausted, elated, or simply glad to see our sunshine," Peggy said.

Peggy is just one of 50 volunteers, known as the 'originals,' who have volunteered at the Airport since the program launched.

Volunteers at Tampa International Airport have donated more then 280,000 hours of their time assisting more than 1 million passengers and guests at the Airport. This week, we celebrate them during National Volunteer Week.

When the Volunteer Ambassador Program launched at TPA, 90 individuals made up the crew. Today, 127 volunteers are currently serving travelers on a daily basis. Daily tasks include welcoming travelers and visitors to the Tampa Bay area, providing friendly, timely and courteous information about Airport facilities, transportation and offering up-to-date information about Tampa Bay area attractions, hotels, restaurants and other amenities.

“Our volunteers provide assistance to travelers, but they’re also there to be that smiling face when a passenger may be stressed out after a long day of traveling,” said Dortresia Johnson, TPA’s Volunteer Service Manager. “They just add that extra layer of customer service to not only our passengers, but our community as well.”

These friendly faces can be found staffing five visitor information kiosks in the Baggage claim areas and the Rental Car Center. There are also volunteers meeting International flights as they arrive as well as the Lost and Found reception area. The kiosks 7 days a week, 3 shifts a day, 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

To sign up or learn more about our Volunteer Ambassador Program, visit https://www.tampaairport.com/volunteer-tampa-airport. 

Meet Amy Puyo, one of four Airport Credentials Specialists responsible for processing the badging applications and renewals of more than eight thousand airport employees and contractors every year.

The airport’s employee and identification badging system is a critical part of the TPA security infrastructure, and there was no break in service, even during a pandemic. Amy says that the badging team stayed flexible and adjusted daily to the new cleanliness and safety protocols put in place.

“We would try different things to stay safe,” she said. “We would change hours, change locations and add in all of the safety measures. It was a learning curve.”

While passenger traffic plunged sharply at the start of the pandemic, other areas such as construction, ramped up. As a result, badging operations stayed consistent and the department’s need for a full staff at all times never wavered. They have continued to process anywhere from 60 to 80 employees a day.

Amy says that it wasn’t enough just to keep the office operating. The team was committed to maintaining their service standards.

“In badging, the employees are our customers,” Amy explains. “It’s important to us to treat everyone well.”

Originally from Colombia, Amy says that her bilingual skills often come in handy and the ability to communicate with someone in their first language provides an additional level of customer service.

When Amy’s not at TPA, she says her family is her world and that she and her husband cherish the time they have together at home with their two young children. Amy is also active in her church, particularly the music program.

“I love to sing. I’m always singing,” says Amy. “Music brings me joy and I hope to share that with my children.”

Amy brings her positive attitude to the airport every day and says its attitude that makes her team successful. As passenger traffic at Tampa International Airport continues to steadily climb, she reflects back on the past year and says that the strong bond of teamwork is the key to resilience.

“It’s how we all work together that makes the difference,” said Amy. “It was challenging, but we all made it.”

The Airport’s Main Terminal building opened to the public on April 15, 1971. Over the years, TPA has been a leader in airport innovation and earned acclaim as one of the best in the industry thanks to its layout, convenience and customer service excellence.

"This building has been the source of countless special memories," said Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano. "I'm proud to say that after all these years, we're better and stronger than ever and it's all because of our incredible team and the support of our passengers and community.”

To celebrate this milestone, the Airport is hosting a sweepstakes to give away a $1,000 gift card for redemption at TPA’s shops and restaurants. The winner will also get a TPA swag basket and an exclusive airfield tour. There will be smaller prizes for second and third place.

The contest is open until April 15 at 10 a.m. and winners will be announced later that day.

See details here: https://tpasweepstakes.wishpondpages.com/50/ 

On April 15, travelers will enjoy: 

• Giveaways for every 50th passenger going down the escalator, exiting the shuttles and at other key touchpoints.
• 50th-anniversary décor around the Main Terminal 
• A TPA branded photo station 
• Special anniversary videos playing throughout the Main Terminal and on social media
• Snacks and treats 

The community is playing an important role in the celebration, sharing more than 140 photos and videos of their best memories at TPA for a special anniversary video, which will debut on Thursday.

“Tampa International Airport has been a crown jewel of our region for 50 years and we look forward to building on that legacy for decades to come,” said HCAA Chairman Gary Harrod. “We very much enjoy our roles as stewards of this great Tampa Bay institution, and we are grateful to our team and passengers who make it one of America’s finest airports.”

Since then, it’s been a year-long bumpy road to business recovery in the ongoing battle against COVID-19. However, if the 2021 spring break season is any indication, it appears travel is on the rise as vaccine availability increases across the U.S. and people are feeling more comfortable booking flights again.

More than 1.4 million passengers traveled through TPA in March – an average of more than 50,000 passengers per day. April is looking even stronger. Over Easter weekend, the Airport saw an average of more than 60,000 passengers per day. While it still falls short of the 80,000+ per day during spring break in 2019, the rapid return of activity is slightly ahead of 2021 projections as TPA continues to analyze and plan for the summer travel period.

“We’re cautiously optimistic along with our airlines, concessionaires and other airport tenants,” said TPA CEO Joe Lopano. “We want to see business return and we want to see it return safely. We still have a long way to go with COVID-19 recovery, particularly in other parts of the world, before we see a true sense of normalcy. But by all of us continuing our efforts to keep air travel safe – along with widespread availability of vaccines – we’re on the right track.”

While aircraft operations and passenger traffic slowed at TPA, its work did not. The Airport was among the first in the country to implement health and safety measures such as distancing markers and plastic shields last April and in October was the first to open a voluntary COVID-19 testing site offering both rapid and PCR tests for all arriving and departing passengers. Construction work buzzed along as the Airport made significant progress on several projects, including its express curbs and SkyCenter commercial office complex. It opened a new, enclosed Long Term Garage walkway to the Main Terminal, installed touchless E-gate boarding pass scanners at all four shuttle entrances and unveiled amenities such as water bottle filling stations and airside terminal pet relief areas.

TPA also became the first airport in the country to offer 5G mobile speeds across the nation's three major cellular carriers, just ahead of service as the host airport for Super Bowl LV in February. It recently launched a new online booking system for parking and TPA to Go, a convenient airport restaurant delivery service.

While TPA’s traffic projections and the timing of its returning international routes remain somewhat uncertain, recent developments show glimmers of hope. Last week, the CDC updated its guidance for travelers, saying those who are fully vaccinated are at a low risk of contracting COVID-19. Southwest Airlines recently announced it would bring back 2,700 flight attendants and 209 pilots in preparation for the summer travel season.

For more stories about Tampa International Airport’s developments, visit the Airport’s newsroom at https://news.tampaairport.com/. The Airport’s website also offers “TPA Ready” tips and information on how to travel safely to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The CDC says that the new guidelines are based on the “real-world” effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, however even vaccinated people should continue to wear masks and take the necessary safety precautions that have already been put into place such as social distancing and frequent hand washing.

Vaccinated travelers no longer have to follow the CDC's recommendations to get a COVID-19 test before and after travel unless required by the destination. The latest announcement does not change the CDC order issued in January, requiring a negative COVID test to board international flights to the United States, and the recommendation for another test three to five days after returning.

According to the CDC, people are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine.

Read the latest bulletin from the CDC.

In early March, construction crews with Hensel Phelps finished the last of five major roadway detours needed to construct a new entryway bridge for the blue express curbsides. Now, crews are simultaneously working on multiple different elevated sections of the bridge, including the entrance, the primary bridge structure and the exit.

With the work largely out of impactful passenger areas, crews are making solid progress and expect to be done by or in advance of the Dec. 31 completion date.

In all, the express curbside project includes eight new express lanes that are connected directly into a vertical circulation building that transports guests directly between their vehicle and the third floor transfer level. This innovation allows departing guests to skip the ticketing level and allows arriving passengers to bypass the arrivals level, helping to decongest the terminal.

“Anything and everything,” he laughs.

He’s not really joking.

While a big part of the job is maintaining the airfield with routine mowing and painting, there is also the interior work that must be done to care for the facilities operated by the airport staff and the multitude of small independent tenants. He recently learned to work on cabinetry for a tenant at Peter O. Knight Airport.

There is also the need to be prepared to respond in the event of an aircraft incident. With no firefighters stationed at the GA airports, Michael is often the first person on the scene.

“You have to be ready to do anything that needs to be done, and you also have to be ready to learn something new,” says Michael. “That’s one of the things I love most about the job.”

For Michael, some of the new skills he’s developed have been somewhat unexpected, like networking.

For a small team like the General Aviation department, it’s all hands on deck when one of the three airports is hosting an event or participating in other events locally to woo new clients. Sadly, while most general aviation operations have been minimally impacted by the pandemic, meeting and greeting at events is one that has had to temporarily go to the wayside.

“I really enjoyed being out at Sun 'n Fun a couple of years ago, greeting guests in the hospitality tent and answering their questions about our general aviation airports,” said Michael. “It made me feel like I was really helping the business and I’ll be glad when we’re able to do that again.”

Reflecting back over his 12 years with the Aviation Authority, Michael could only think back to one task he would have happily avoided.

This past December, a cow from a nearby property wandered onto Tampa Executive Airport. As the local sheriff’s department helicopter circled overhead, Michael was one of two employees on the ground attempting to wrangle the errant bovine. The mission lasted for several hours and video from the chase ended up on news stations across the country.

“I hated that cow,” said Michael, joking. “I mean, I REALLY hated that cow.”

After an initial dip in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, flight operations are ticking up, airplane fuel is flowing and several impressive new construction projects are wrapping up.

“The future for general aviation is bright,” said Brett Fay, the Director of General Aviation overseeing all of Hillsborough’s reliever airports. “What we’re seeing in the trends is that general aviation is going to play a major part in our local economy and that building this infrastructure now is hugely important.”

For 2020, general aviation operations at Peter O. Knight, Plant City Airport, Tampa Executive and TPA’s two fixed-base operators ended the year only down 12 percent compared to 2019 – a drop due largely to a weak spring when the pandemic first arrived in Florida. By summer, operations and fuel flowage – a major revenue source – had rebounded.

“Our business is booming right now,” said Fay.

The GA airports used the relative slowdown to make significant progress on several major improvements.

One of the biggest changes: The terminal renovation at Tampa Executive, which is located near the I-4/I-75 corridor. The $1.2 million renovation gave the 20-year-old building a major facelift, including everything from new bathrooms and flooring to new LED lighting and critical repairs/enhancements. The project officially finished in late October 2020.

“We’ve got a beautiful terminal building,” said Fay. “These changes and enhancements put that terminal building right up there with the nicest facilities you will find in general aviation.”

Meanwhile, just outside the terminal, crews are putting the finishing touches on a massive upgrade to the airfield, including new runway pavement, lighting, navigational aids and other maintenance. The $7.7 million project is slated to finish in April.

At Plant City Airport, crews recently finished construction on a new fuel farm and airplane ramp on the airfield, modernizing the facilities and improving service.

Finally, Sheltair, a fixed-base operator at Tampa International Airport, was recently approved to construct a new 110,000 square-foot hangar/office complex. This facility will serve as an important new revenue source for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, and also signifies a substantial new investment by Sheltair.

After relying on a plant that dates back to the late '90s to heat and cool the Main Terminal, construction is speeding along on a new, state-of-the-art utility plant that will be bigger, more efficient and more sustainable than the previous version.

 “It’s essentially better in every way,” said Paul Ridgeway, TPA’s Director of Maintenance. “From its performance to the aesthetics of the 10,000 square-foot building, we’re getting a massive upgrade that will help us better serve millions of guests and airport tenants. We couldn’t be more excited for it to come online.”

Crews are currently working towards topping out the building, aiming to wrap the entire project up this summer. Significant electrical work, piping connections and interior buildout remain, but the building largely resembles the final structure. Much of the heavy equipment, including three large chillers, have already been installed.

When finished, the new CUP, and associated Electrical Service Building, will provide all utility services to the Main Terminal including cooling, heating, fire protection, domestic water and power.

The CUP’s performance will be significantly improved compared to today:

• 30 percent more efficient, removing the equivalent of about 620 vehicles off the road each year in carbon dioxide emissions.
• Saves 25 million gallons of water per year through the use of reclaimed water.
• Increased overall capacity by about 33 percent
• New heat recovery chiller that reduces demand on the boilers and overall natural gas consumption

The current Central Utility Plant is located in the Administration Building, which is set to be demolished to make way for new express curbsides as part of Phase 2 of the Master Plan. The curbsides are necessary to accommodate future passenger growth.

The new building will be visually striking, both inside and out, to passersby.

As guests leave the curbside, they will be able to look inside the building’s glass windows to see a maze of brightly colored pipes, chillers and other heavy-duty mechanical equipment. The outside of the building will be wrapped in perforated metal cladding and lit up at night with multicolored LED lighting.

“I just knew it was for me,” says Hamilton. “A job where there was constant activity and excitement, while at the same time you’re always helping people.”

As a young female in a male-dominated field, Hamilton says that she met plenty of roadblocks along the way and at times felt discouraged. But she persisted and continued to follow her dream.

Hamilton’s hometown is all the better for it.

She proudly served her community with the Tampa Police Department for more than 28 years before hanging up her handcuffs and retiring from the police force.

But retirement was short-lived. Hamilton is back on the job, this time with the Tampa International Airport Police Department.

“I just love working here,” she says. “You’re still focused on keeping the guests safe, but you’re also doing your best to be helpful and provide a pleasant experience.”

Although she grew up “just around the corner” from TPA, Hamilton says that once you get a behind-the-scenes look, you gain a completely new appreciation for the Airport.

“You don’t realize how massive it is,” she says. “And you gain a real appreciation for the design, the art and the efficiency.”

Hamilton says that she doesn’t know how long this next chapter of her career will be. She does have a goal in mind, though.

“I want to be a positive force behind the badge, one which exemplifies professionalism, commonality with guests and serving as an advocate in promoting a well-rounded experience for all who visit TPA.”

After months of construction, the SkyCenter atrium is nearly complete.

The new atrium provides a key link between the SkyConnect system at the Rental Car Center and the SkyCenter One office building, which is currently under construction. Eventually, the atrium will also connect to a new hotel.

Take a look at the breathtaking and modern new facility.

Recognized as the premier state law enforcement accreditation program in the United States, CFA awards the  prestigious honor after conducting an in-depth look at every aspect of the agency’s organization, management, operations and administration. Accreditation typically includes an extensive review of an agency’s policies, procedures and protocols as well as an on-site inspection and interviews with key personnel. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the process is currently a combination of electronic document review and virtual interviews.

The police department underwent the three-day intense review process in December. By the end of the third day of review, the Commission had reviewed the department’s documentation for nearly 200 mandatory and non-mandatory standards as well as conducted interviews with more than 23 agency staff members. The official accreditation was awarded on Feb. 18.

“I am proud that the Commissioners unanimously voted for reaccreditation of the Tampa International Airport Police Department,” said Chief of Police Charlie Vazquez. “It speaks to the level of dedication and professionalism each member of our Department and the Airport Operations Center displays on a daily basis. With accreditation, our guests, tenants and employees can have confidence that their Airport Police Department is among the finest that the great state of Florida has to offer.”

The Super Bowl is more than football's biggest stage - it's also a time for the host city's airport to shine. That's exactly what Tampa International Airport did this past week.

With Super Bowl LV now over, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrating their historic home victory, we walk you through what the big game looked like for TPA, before, during and after the game.

2,000 Volunteers

If you visited Tampa International Airport the week leading up to the Super Bowl, chances are, you came across one of the nearly 2,000 volunteer ambassadors who filled the Airport with welcome cheers and big game excitement. These volunteers not only helped showcase TPA's hospitality, but also assisted travelers with wayfinding and other needs. 

Lots of planes

Although attendance at this year's Super Bowl was limited due to COVID-19 precautions, fans from both teams still flew in numbers to experience the hype and fun that accompanies the game each year. In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, passenger operations at TPA were up more than 20 percent. 

The Kansas City Chiefs arrival

With several dozen members of the media from across the country looking on, the Kansas City Chiefs arrived just before 5 p.m. on Saturday. The United 777 pilot and co-pilot opened the cockpit windows and waved Kansas City Chiefs' flags as they taxied near the team buses. The flight, which had a delayed departure due to high wind and snow in Kansas City, enjoyed a smooth and sunny landing at TPA on Saturday, just in time for a good old Tampa sunset.

Little did the Chiefs know, but landing at TPA would be their only touchdown of the weekend.

Two Mayors 

Just three days before kickoff, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor greeted Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas as he arrived from the Chief's home town. Mayor Q, as they call him, was welcomed to the region by a trio of drummers and numerous Tampa-themed gifts, including craft beer, local snacks and a gang of pirates.

After they exchanged gifts, Castor reminded Mayor Q that, "While he's in Tampa, he will be referred to as Mayor 'ARGH.' " 

Private jets (big ones!) descend on TPA for the game

Between Thursday, Feb. 4 and Monday morning, Feb. 8, Tampa International Airport saw 870 general aviation operations with a total of 181 GA planes on the ground at one point in time (insert WOW here!). That's an increase of nearly 250 percent compared to a normal day. 

No flight for the Lombardi

The coveted Vince Lombardi trophy has seen it all during its week-long adventure here in Tampa Bay. The trophy spent the past year of its life in Kansas City as the then-defending Super Bowl Champs tackled the year ahead. After Sunday night, the big sterling silver award will be calling Tampa home - at least until next year.

We're sure it doesn't mind the change of scenery. After all, the weather is much nicer down here. 

In the world of aviation, there are few individuals who have broken more barriers along the way than Bessie Coleman.

Born in Texas in 1892, Coleman moved to Chicago at age 23 to try and make a better life for herself. When her brothers came home from serving overseas in World War I, they shared stories of the French women who were allowed to take flying lessons. She decided then that that was her goal. Coleman applied to several flights schools in the U.S., but no school would take her because she was both African-American and a woman.

Coleman spent months learning French before attending the Caudron Brother’s School of Aviation in France. When she received her international pilot’s license in June 1921, Coleman was the first American of any race or gender to be directly awarded credentials to pilot an airplane from the Federation Aeronitique Internationale.

Over the next few years, Coleman continued to train with the great aviators of Europe and develop her flying skills. She perfected maneuvers into finely polished aerobatic stunts including, figure eights, loop the loops, trick climbs and even landing the airplane with the engine off.

Coleman eventually returned to the U.S. and began performing her daring stunts in air shows. She was nicknamed “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bess,” dazzling large crowds across the country.

Sadly, Coleman’s life was cut short in 1926 at the age of 34, when she was fell to her death while on a practice flight in Jacksonville, FL. Her dreams of opening her own flying school to help other women and African-Americans achieve their flying goals, was not to be.

Tampa International Airport honored Coleman’s accomplishments in Sept. 2000, when the Board of Directors unanimously voted to rename the Airport Service Road to Bessie Coleman Boulevard in recognition of one of history’s great aviatrix.

Refusing to wear a mask at the Airport is a violation of federal law and individuals who fail to comply with the new mandate may be removed from the Airport and denied re-entry.

Enforcement will be undertaken by several different entities at TPA, including airport police and designated staff members, the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the airlines.

Individuals without a mask will be asked to put one on, and those who don’t have a mask will be provided one free of charge. If an individual refuses to put on a mask, law enforcement will be called and additional actions will be taken as necessary.

The change comes on the heels of President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, which was signed on Jan. 21. The order applies across a wide variety of modes of public transit, with a few exemptions, including children under 2 and people with a disability that makes it unsafe to wear a mask. Please see the CDC order for all exemptions.

Face coverings have been required at TPA since June 19, 2020 when Tampa Mayor Jane Castor’s city-wide Executive Order went into place. The federal mask order eliminates certain exemptions allowed under the City of Tampa version, and allows for additional enforcement for those not in compliance.

Tampa International Airport has had a mask policy in place for employees since May 2020. For more information about what TPA is doing to keep its guests, passengers and employees safe and healthy, visit the Airport's TPA Ready page.

Super Bowl LV is just a couple of weeks away, and like most of the Tampa Bay region, Tampa International Airport is ready for the big game. But what does it really mean to host something as big as the Super Bowl? Well, here are five things you'll see at TPA centered around professional football's final meeting of the season on Feb. 7.

1. Super Bowl merch

Want to be the first in your friend group to sport the winning team's attire? Tampa International Airport very well might be the first place in the region to have your official Super Bowl LV merchandise. 

TPA will have the winning team's merchandise available as soon as the game ends at Tampa Bay Sports on the third floor of the Main Terminal. With one-hour free parking in our garages, you can come in anytime and stock up on your big game swag.

In addition to Tampa Bay Sports, we will also have several pop-up shops with all things Super Bowl LV, including the Main Terminal's Shoppes at Bayshore and our post-security newsstands.

2. Curbside Check-in

You've seen the Remote Bag Check at the Rental Car Center, but for the Big Game, we're bringing it to our Main Terminal curbsides! That's right - check your luggage right at the curb on Monday, Feb. 8 at the Red or Blue departures curbsides. This service will be $5 per reservation for passengers regardless of the number of bags and will allow a simple, seamless bag-check process. 

3. Traffic - lots of it

Typically, Super Bowl brings huge crowds and a great amount of traffic, but things are a bit different this year with COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of fans at Raymond James. That being said, we're still expecting a pretty busy day with both foot and vehicle traffic at the Airport. We're anticipating nearly 5,000 pick-ups throughout the week prior to the game and as many 30,000 arriving passengers each day leading up to the game.

4. Helping hands

Over the course of the week before the game, TPA plans to have more than 1,800 volunteers at the Airport assisting passengers and visitors. Volunteers will flood all three levels of the Main Terminal from Baggage Claim to the Transfer Level. Not sure where you're headed? Looking for something specific? Find one of our volunteers in a Super Bowl polo and they'll be more than happy to assist you.

5. Human Trafficking awareness signs (and lots of them!)

This year, we've partnered with It's a Penalty to increase awareness of human trafficking in the Tampa Bay region. We encourage passengers and visitors to team up with us by using the "see something, say something" approach.

Things to look for include:

• Someone whose movement seems to be restricted by someone else
• Someone in possession of a potential victim's ID or travel documents
• A potential victim might act fearful, anxious, tense, nervous or avoid eye contact
• A potential victim might defer to someone else to speak for them
• A potential victim might look malnourished or show signs of abuse

What should you do?

If you notice any of these signs, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (1)888-373-7888 or call 911. You can also submit an anonymous tip here.

The Taxiway A Bridge, pictured here, is slated for completion in mid-February. Once finished, it will be the third bridge connecting the Airport’s east and west runways. The bridge eliminates a major intersection between planes and other airfield vehicles.

The bridge is also being designed with the future in mind, with room for multiple lanes of vehicle traffic underneath and a slot for a future SkyConnect expansion to a new north terminal.

The bridge, by the numbers:

Length: 227.50 feet

Width: 217.50 feet

Amount of concrete used: 7,730 Cubic Yards (approximately 773 concrete trucks)

Concrete thickness: 2.5 to 5 feet

Amount of rebar: 1,521,640 Pounds

Post-tension steel: 362,450 Pounds

Capacity: 747-400 ER

The February 7 event is expected to bring thousands of extra passengers and hundreds of private or charter jets to TPA’s general aviation facilities, with the heaviest activity taking place in the 24 hours following the game. Taxis and ride-sharing companies are expecting to handle approximately 5,000 additional pickups throughout Super Bowl week.

TPA has been working with several local, regional and national agencies and organizations, as well as its own concessionaires and other business partners, to ensure the best possible experience for Super Bowl LV organizers, players, fans and visitors. The last time Tampa hosted the Super Bowl was in 2009 and TPA has since handled passengers for several large events such as the 2012 Republican National Convention and the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Among some of the initiatives and efforts TPA guests may see leading up to Super Bowl LV are:

• Approximately 1,800 volunteers throughout the Airport during Super Bowl week to help visitors navigate the facilities and share information about the Tampa Bay area
• Greater Tampa International Airport Police presence and increased staff training, awareness and signage to spot signs and help prevent human trafficking
• Curbside check-in at both Red and Blue sides, as well as at the Rental Car Center, for convenient luggage drop-off and flight check-in service with most major airlines
• Coordination with TPA’s concessionaires to provide official Super Bowl LV and NFL team merchandise for sale to fans in the Main Terminal and Airside Terminals, as well as expanded hours of restaurants, bars and coffee shops
• Ongoing public reminders for Super Bowl travelers to adequately time their departures on a busy day
• Continued implementation of the Airport’s COVID-19 testing site and the TPA Ready program, which ensures increased cleaning and sanitization of TPA’s facilities and restrooms, mandated masks, social distancing, plastic shields at counters and kiosks and other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19

For more information about TPA and Super Bowl LV, visit https://www.tampaairport.com/superbowl.

Tampa has the 12th highest rate of calls per capita made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Florida as a state has the third highest rate of human trafficking cases reported. Reports of human trafficking increase around major events, such as the Super Bowl, due to the large influx of visitors. According to It’s a Penalty, there were 44 arrests related to human trafficking made at the Super Bowl one year ago.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody was at the event to lend her support on behalf of the State of Florida, to inspire everyone to stay vigilant and to be aware of the signs of a human trafficking victim.

“The signs of human trafficking can be observed by anyone,” said Moody. “And anyone can step up and take action to help.”

The Airport is assisting in the effort by posting digital signage around the airport campus with messages educating travelers about human trafficking and exploitation and how to report it.

As part of the awareness campaign, travelers will see painted goat statues inside TPA as a part of Project G.O.A.T -- Global Offensive Against Trafficking -- a charity launched by a Thonotosassa couple to raise money for organizations that fight human trafficking. They are a sampling of the 55 goats that will be auctioned off to raise both awareness and dollars toward the cause.

For more information on how to spot signs of human trafficking, go to https://itsapenalty.org/.

Attention Tampa International Airport travelers: All I-275 lanes on the Howard Frankland Bridge will close from 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9 until noon on Sunday, Jan. 10 as part of ongoing roadway project.

Travelers coming to the Airport over the bridge encouraged to add approximately 30 minutes of travel time as traffic congestion and delays may occur while traveling on these roadways during this closure.

Electronic message boards and temporary signage will assist I-275 northbound and southbound motorists traveling around this closure via the posted detour route using Roosevelt Boulevard, Gandy Boulevard, and Dale Mabry Highway.

Other roadways (Roosevelt Boulevard, Bayside Bridge, Courtney Campbell Causeway, and Memorial Highway) will remain accessible and may provide an alternate route if needed.

So when he was asked by Traffic Manager Robert Rinehart to consider accepting additional responsibility, he didn’t hesitate.

Andrew is one of TPA’s new Airport Resource Officers. As an ARO, Andrew works two to three shifts a week, responding to the calls that do not require a law enforcement officer, such as a minor injury on the premises.

Andrew learned on the job shadowing the Airport Police Department on the proper response procedure. When he arrives to the scene of the injury, he assists the guest and lets them know that medical help is one the way, all while staying in contact with the police dispatchers. Andrew waits for the paramedics to arrive, then documents the activity and generates a report.

According to Rinehart, the ARO position requires someone who is able to multi-task, has good decision-making skills, works with minimal supervision and is computer savvy.

“Andrew was a great fit for the job,” said Rinehart. “He embodies all of those traits.”

Andrew said that even with the new tasks, he’s not done learning and looks forward to more challenges. He’s currently attending St. Petersburg College, working toward a degree in Public Policy Administration.

“I’m not sure what I see myself doing down far the road, but I know I want it to be at the Airport,” said Andrew.

Many states and cities accross the U.S. have different travel restrictions in place. The CDC has compiled the most up-to-date info here which allows you to type in the city and state you're traveling to and get all the necessary information. 

2. Can I bring my expensive perfume or jar of cranberry sauce through the TSA checkpoint?

Ahh, the age-old "what can I bring through TSA" question. Well, TSA has created this awesome page where you can type in your item in question and they'll tell you if it's allowed in your carry-on! 

3. I heard you have COVID-19 testing at TPA. How do I get tested? How soon before my flight should I test? What is the cost of the test?

Yes, we have voluntary COVID-19 testing and yes, it's available for all passengers! For answers to all of your COVID-19 testing at the Airport questions, check out BayCare's page here. 

4. When are you getting European flights back?

Good question! We currently do not have a scheduled return date for any of our European flights, but we've recently resumed the following international destinations: Cancun, Mexico, Havana, Cuba, Nassau, Bahamas and Toronto, Canada. 

For the latest country-by-country info on travel restrictions, please click here

5. Which shops and restaurants will be open on my airside when I get there?

Hungry? Thirsty? Wondering which of your favorite Airport restaurants will be open when you travel through TPA? Information about what shops and restaurants are open can be found here.

6. What are you doing to keep me safe when I travel through TPA?

We're glad you asked. TPA has implemented an Airport-wide campaign called TPA Ready in order to keep our facilities clean and safe for guests and employees. Those initiatives include:

• More hand sanitizing stations
• New acrylic barriers at ticketing kiosks, TSA lines and gate areas
• Blocked off seating to allow for social distancing
• Added signage to encourage social distancing
• Mandatory face masks for all airport employees
• Additional cleaning crews
• Contactless payment at shops and restaurants
• Touch-free ticket dispensers at parking garages

7. Do I need a negative COVID test to fly into Tampa?

Currently, the state of Florida has no travel restrictions in place. For all COVID-19-related travel questions, visit the Florida Department of Health website or contact the Florida Department of Health at (866) 779-6121 or email COVID-19@flhealth.gov.

8. Am I required to wear a mask in the Airport or on my airline? 

The City-wide mask mandate requires that all patrons inside the Airport wear a face covering. To learn more about this and potential exemptions to this rule, visit Tampa.gov. Airlines may have individual requirements or regulations for face masks, so we suggest you reach out to your airline directly on any specific inquiries. Forgot your mask? Just stop by our information desk for a free face covering or any of our News Link stores to purchase an N-95 mask.

9. How long before my flight should I arrive at the Airport? 

Yes, times are a bit strange and the Airport may not have as high passenger volume as normal, but we still suggest passengers arrive at least two hours before their flight departs. This allows for social distancing at our ticketing counters and gates and limits congestion at security checkpoints. If you are flying international, we suggest arriving at least three hours early. 

10. Does my service animal need to wear a mask?

Although he/she would probably look pretty cute, no, we do not require that service animals mask up. 

Want more information about how to prepare for your holiday travel? Check out our Holiday Hub. 

They found both this year, and helped out countless families in need, by volunteering on recently at Metropolitan Ministries’ Tampa Holiday Tent, which annually provides food and toys to roughly 40,000 families every year.

The team of volunteers this year included (left to right, top to bottom) Margaret Albanese-Dow, Kathie Taube, Kelly Abreu, Patty Gardner, Kevin Jason and Nick Desiano. Together, they helped decorate the tent and bring some normalcy and holiday cheer for those most in need.

“It was just a way for us to get together and do something for the community,” said Kathie Taube, Project and Grants Finance Manager.

This was the team’s first year volunteering at the event, but they expect to continue on finding new ways of giving back in the future.

He got his start at the Airport as a Public Safety Dispatcher in the Airport Operations Center (AOC) in 2005, dispatching 911 and emergency calls and soon moved into a supervisor role. Chris continued to climb into a training position with the AOC where he taught new employees the tricks of the trade. 

In 2015, Chris made the switch to the Operations department where he was recently promoted to Manager of Training and Innovation, a novel role that hadn't previously existed. The need for this position was huge, Chris said, because of all the rapid adoption of new technologies and the substantial training required for new hires.

"I started at the Airport as a dispatcher because I knew I wanted to help people. Throughout my entire career, my personality has led me to kinda always be in a training role," Chris said. "I found out I could be more helpful training people and it's something I've always enjoyed."

Just four months ago, Chris took on another role - one that still requires training, lots of hard work and waking up early - as a new father. 

When he's not spending time with baby Isaac or working, he uses his sparce spare time with his many hobbies, which include: cars, cooking, music, travel and photography - just to name a few. 

His favorite part about his job at TPA? The people. 

"I've been here 15 years and some of the best people I've ever met, I met here at the Airport."

White was introduced at his first HCAA Board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 3, and he will fill the role of Assistant Secretary/Assistant Treasurer which was previously held by Commissioner Les Miller, who left office due to term limits.

Serving as the Board Chaplain to the Board of County Commissioners for the past three terms, White also fulfills duties on various boards and organizations, including the Agency on Bay Management, the Hillsborough River Interlocal Planning Board, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) as an Alternate and the Tampa Bay Estuary Program Policy Board.

From 2010 to 2014, White served on the Hillsborough County School Board, and in 2016 he was elected as the Chairman to the Board of County Commissioners.

Stacy White is a fifth generation native of Hillsborough County who lives in Valrico with his wife of 23 years and their three children. After graduating from East Bay High School, he earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida and has practiced pharmacy more than 20 years. In addition to being a practicing pharmacist, he serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy with the University of Florida, where he educates pharmacy students during their internships. In 2006, the university recognized his outstanding work in this capacity by naming him Roche Preceptor of the Year in an Outpatient Setting.

Stacy and his family attend New Hope United Methodist Church in Brandon. He and his wife stay busy with their high school and college-aged children as well as a host of community activities. In their free time, Stacy and his family enjoy boating, fishing, and Florida Gators athletics.

For the past several months, contractors working on SkyCenter One office building and atrium have steadily knocked down one milestone after another, turning more and more to interior finishes and some of the finer details.

Of particular note: The office building’s exterior – featuring nine stories of glass windows – is now complete. Crews with J.E. Dunn are busy working on the interiors, adding massive amounts of drywall to each floor, constructing the gym and plumbing the building’s future café, among other key tasks.

The contractor aims to turn over critical spaces in the coming months to the building’s tenants, including the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, so that they can add the finishing touches.

The atrium is even further along.

On the bottom floor, crews are adding terrazzo. On the levels above, tile is rapidly being set. Overhead, workers are adding thousands of square feet of ceiling tile.

One of the atrium’s most important features is a multi-story staircase that sits prominently in the building’s vast open space. This staircase is now getting its handrails.

On the rooftop terrace, where building users will be able to go to enjoy a 360-degree view of Tampa Bay, crews are adding large amounts of landscaping. Sod, palm trees and, soon, shrubs, will beautify the area.

The covered bridge that connects the atrium to the SkyConnect station at the Rental Car Center is also now fully enclosed and tile is beginning to go in. Workers are also installing the moving walkway that will quickly transport people from the SkyCenter area to the train and beyond.

Early 2021 brings some important milestones for both buildings.

The atrium and pedestrian walkway are expected to hit substantial completion in February 2021. Meanwhile, the SkyCenter One office building is expected to be substantially complete (excluding tenant improvements) in the spring.

In fact, Darryl was responsible for much of the logistics behind transforming TPA’s Main Terminal Event Space into a COVID-19 testing site, complete with a spacious waiting area, nurse stations for administering tests and plenty of draping for privacy. He has also helped set the stage for events such as TPA’s first virtual employee town hall and its outdoor Employee BBQ with a live band.

This is in addition to quickly repairing cracked tiles and ripped carpet, tending to plumbing issues and acting as a general fix-it guy for one of the country’s most well-kept airports.

“The people on my team do a multitude of things,” Darryl said. “You know how in Lion King Mufasa says to Simba, ‘Everything the light touches is our kingdom?’ Everything the light touches at TPA is ours.”

Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Darryl moved to New York when he was about 18 where he got into acting and contractor work, the latter which was more sustainable as a career. After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, he and his wife decided to move their family elsewhere.

“It was very scary for us because I couldn’t reach my wife for four hours after the attacks,” Darryl said.

They looked into Florida and thought Tampa sounded ideal. They now live in the FishHawk area, where Darryl likes to ride his bike around the trails and read the Bible in the evening. Darryl is very active in his church when he’s not spending time with his wife of 25 years and their three daughters – 22-year-old Maria, 20-year-old Juliana and 17-year-old Edith – or their two dogs, Milo and Marley.

Darryl has worked at TPA for 12 years and has seen a number of changes during that time, not the least of which has been the changes COVID-19 has brought to his team.

“We were very scared and sad and worried at first,” he said. “Now we’re all very careful with washing our hands, spraying things down with alcohol, taking all the precautions to avoid getting sick or spreading illness. It’s become second nature now and the anxiety has eased up.”

TPA’s official Thanksgiving travel period runs from Friday, Nov. 20, through Monday, Nov. 30, with the two busiest days being the Saturday and Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday. On each of those days, between 47,000 and 49,000 passengers are expected to travel through TPA, though passenger estimates are harder to predict than in years past.

This year’s Thanksgiving passenger traffic is projected to be approximately 40 to 50 percent less than what it was during the same period last year.

Guests choosing to travel during this period will see many of the enhanced health, safety and sanitation efforts that TPA began rolling out at the end of April as part of the TPA Ready plan. Those measures include:

• Hand sanitizing stations
• Acrylic barriers at high touch areas
• New cleaning technology and frequency of cleaning
• Social distancing markers
• Touchless options, including new electronic gates, as well as touchless payment at our shops and restaurants

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

• Wearing a face mask properly at all times
• Wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer
• Maintain social distancing as much as possible
• Use touchless options and mobile boarding passes
• Allow ample time at the airport to help avoid crowds
• Check with your airline for any additional guidelines

To accommodate an increase in travelers, more shopping and dining locations have reopened throughout the Airport. TPA also offers convenient grab-and-go options that can be enjoyed at the gate area and there are more sit-down dining options with limited capacity to promote social distancing. All restaurants in the Main Terminal have optional outdoor seating. Additional parking has reopened but Valet Parking remains closed.

In October, TPA began offering COVID-19 testing for all travelers. Testing is provided through BayCare and is available seven days a week, but will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Travelers interested in testing should visit the website for information on hours, pricing and testing options.

Thanksgiving often means food as well as family, and TSA reminds you that security screening restrictions on all carry-on and checked baggage still apply. Per the TSA website, “If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it, pack it in a checked bag.”

TPA understands that not everyone is ready to return to the skies over the holidays, but for those who choose to fly, the Airport has taken every effort to provide for its guests’ and employees’ safety and comfort during these challenging times. Tampa International Airport wishes all of its travelers -- now and in the future -- safe and happy holidays.

Additionally, all general aviation activities at Tampa International Airport, Peter O. Knight, Plant City and Tampa Executive have resumed normal operations.

On Wednesday, there were 111 cancellations at TPA and there are 42 scheduled today.

As a reminder, there won’t be COVID-19 passenger testing services at TPA today. Testing will resume Friday.

For the latest updates, please follow @FlyTPA on Twitter.

All passengers should check with their airlines for flight status updates. The Airport, including the Main Terminal and parking garages, will be closed to all visitors at that time. TPA is not a designated storm shelter.

All operations are expected to resume Thursday by noon, but could reopen earlier if the airfield and terminal areas are deemed fit.

The 3 p.m. closure will allow the airport to prepare the airfield and terminals, including the securing of jet bridges, ground equipment and any remaining aircraft.

Tampa International Airport is working closely with the National Weather Service to receive the latest updates on Eta. The storm is projected to bring tropical storm force winds of 40 miles per hour beginning late Wednesday afternoon or early Wednesday evening.

To get the latest operational updates, please follow @FlyTPA on Twitter.

Note to traveler's interested in using TPA's COVID-19 testing site: The testing site will remain closed through the day Thursday, reopening on Friday. For additional information on COVID-19 screening sites, please visit BayCare at: https://baycare.org/coronavirus/covid-19-testing-centers

The 28th named storm serves as a fitting reminder that hurricane season is still here and it could impact your travel plans.

Hurricane season, which runs from June through November, typically peaks in mid-August through late October, according to the National Hurricane Center. TS Eta could approach the Gulf Coast later this week as a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center, and possibly bring impacts from rain, wind, and storm surge. This could disrupt air travel in the region, impacting flights to and from Tampa International Airport.

As always TPA recommends travelers monitor bad weather in their area or destination and contact their airline for flight status updates.

Tampa International Airport is not currently anticipating severe weather impacts from the storm, but that doesn’t mean the airport doesn’t prepare for it. During any heavy storm watch, TPA’s operations team actively makes preparations by finalizing storm checklists, getting personnel ready and providing daily updates to key decision-makers.

With hurricanes a part of life in Tampa Bay, TPA has implemented a robust hurricane plan that gets updated and refined every year.

To read more about the Airport’s hurricane preparations, check out this Tampa Bay Times story featuring Airport EVP of Operations and Customer Service John Tiliacos.

The Outbound Parkway will be closed twice for construction:

• Monday, Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. to Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 4 a.m.
• Monday, Nov. 16 at 10 p.m. to Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 4 a.m.

Visitors and guests will also see several lane closures this month as part of the work. The lane closures will not require any detours.

TPA expects to see additional roadway closures in the future as work on the roadway expansion, including new sign structures, continues. In total, the roadway project is expected to involve approximately 40 nights of detours through the fall.

The next major milestone coming up? Workers will officially link the 287,000 square-foot office building to the atrium, which will eventually take office workers and guests all the way to the Main Terminal (via the SkyConnect.)

The blue side curbside project will add eight lanes for passengers without checked luggage, a new vertical circulation building to take people to and from the Main Terminal and a pedestrian walkway. After months of progress, it’s currently on schedule and slated to open to the public in early 2022.

The first phase of structural steel is now in place for the vertical circulation building and the metal roof has been installed. Crews are in the process of fireproofing the structure and, later this month, will begin installing the glass windows that will wrap around the building.

Meanwhile, workers have poured the concrete decks for the elevated pedestrian walkway that will connect the Main Terminal and Long Term Parking Garage. The pedestrian bridge is the first area that will open to the public, and guests will be able to walk from Long Term Parking through the new pedestrian bridge into a new central lobby space in January 2021.

Roadway progress is also going well.

Crews recently shifted traffic to a temporary road to allow work to continue on the curbside entry bridge. Workers are currently installing beams for the elevated roadway as well as hoising the steel for the roof canopy that will cover the road.

Over the past week, TPA has seen its three highest daily passenger counts since traffic plummeted more than 90 percent in late March and early April due to COVID-19. On Sunday, TPA served approximately 30,620 guests. Earlier in the week, TPA had two consecutive days with more than 28,000 passengers, a threshold that hadn’t been reached in more than six months.

“We remain hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is behind us and that passengers are gradually feeling more confident in making travel plans,” said Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service John Tiliacos. “We will be relentless in doing everything in our power to restore passenger confidence in flying again, which includes providing the cleanest airport terminal facilities and voluntary COVID-19 testing for all passengers.”

Despite the gradual increase in passengers, TPA’s passenger numbers are still down significantly compared to this time last year. For the same week in 2019, TPA’s passenger traffic is down about 58.6 percent.

September and October tend to be the slowest travel months of the year for Florida airports, with traffic picking up significantly in November for the holidays.

Tampa International Airport has taken extensive steps to ensure the safety and well-being of all travelers, including a first-in-the-nation COVID-19 testing center that provides voluntary screening for any arriving and departing passengers.

Since the testing pilot launched on Oct. 1, more than 1,000 passengers have gotten tested. Of those, 450 have received the rapid antigen test while another 553 have received the PCR test.

As the airport works to provide clean and safe facilities, airlines are bringing back important service to TPA. Airlines continue to add new flights and resume previously served markets from TPA in response to increasing passenger numbers. For the month of October, airlines started or resumed 13 routes from TPA.

“In my time with the Authority, I’ve learned that doing good is not good enough for me,” Alejandro said. “I want to exceed expectations with everything I do.”

Alejandro wakes up every morning at 4 a.m. and says a quick prayer for his family and friends. He then heads to work where he manages a team of seven employees who maintain the integrity of the Airfield – an important job when you’re working for a busy Airport. 

His favorite part of the job? The fact that he’s always learning – and he’s never afraid of a challenge.

“You never stop learning here. There are new challenges every day, and that keeps me on my toes,” he said. “I love adapting to the changes at the Airport, and by doing that, I know I’m making a difference.”

Alexandra Bouzas was about to board her flight from Newark when she stopped by TPA’s COVID-19 testing site. Her friend she was visiting in New Jersey saw an article about the testing pilot so she decided get the rapid antigen test before boarding Thursday morning, which happened to be the first day of the pilot program.

After swabbing her nose, she handed off the specimen to a nurse who came out to find her 15 minutes later with the result: Negative.

“It’s a peace of mind and just good to know before I visit my friend that I’m COVID-free,” Bouzas said. “She has a six-month-old baby and it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

Bouzas was one of nearly 70 passengers who took advantage of the quick and convenient testing at the Main Terminal TPA site, which is the first in the U.S. to offer both the rapid antigen test and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test to all arriving and departing passengers. The pilot program, which was developed in partnership with BayCare Health System and uses BayCare medical staff to conduct the testing, will take place throughout October.

The testing site, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., had a line of waiting passengers at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday and stayed busy throughout the day.

One guest who stopped by the site, Jim Faile, saw signage for the COVID-19 testing while at TPA attending a TSA PreCheck appointment. He and his wife and two young children were flying to Croatia the following Saturday and he had questions for the BayCare staff about how to time the testing prior to flying.

“This is great,” Faile said. “I had no idea the airport had this, and this makes it easier for us to get clearance once we land.”

At many destinations around the world, government health agencies are requiring travelers to provide a negative PCR test result to avoid quarantine or other restrictions upon arrival. Passengers departing from Tampa to states, countries or territories requiring negative PCR tests are advised to take the test three days before departure and can expect results within 48 hours.

The antigen test, which produces results in 15 minutes and is most accurate within five days of the onset of symptoms, offers an added layer of same-day reassurance for travelers arriving at or departing TPA. A majority of people who have received testing at TPA since Thursday have opted to do the antigen testing as they’re arriving or departing the airport. The PCR testing is more popular among those flying to places where they need to bring a negative test result to avoid quarantining.

The cost of the PCR testing is $125 and the antigen test is $57.

For more information about TPA’s COVID-19 testing pilot, go to: https://baycare.org/TPA-Testing

Over the past six months, TPA has made rapid progress on numerous enhancements, including eight new express curbside lanes for passengers without checked luggage, a nine story office building, a modern central utility plant and a critical roadway expansion project.

Many of these projects are ahead of schedule due to lower passenger numbers, which gives workers the ability to work longer hours without impacting passengers.

“We know passengers will come back and these projects are critical to providing a top-notch experience for all our guests,” said Vice President of Planning & Development Jeff Siddle. “We are happy to use this slow period to complete some construction projects that would be extremely impactful.”

TPA currently four major Master Plan Phase 2 projects under construction as well as several smaller capital improvement projects, such as roof replacements and airfield repair.

Blue curbsides and central utility plant

One of TPA’s most innovative – and passenger-centric – projects are TPA’s new express curbside lanes. The new lanes will make it faster and easier for visitors to get picked up and dropped off, allowing guests to go directly from curbsides to the Main Terminal’s third floor transfer level. This allows guests to completely bypass the ticketing level.

The curbsides and adjacent vertical circulation building are out of the ground and going vertical, with a completion date expected in early 2022.

The nearby central utility plant, which provides a much-needed modernization of TPA’s utilities, is also beginning to go vertical and is on pace for a late 2021 completion date.

Roadway expansion

TPA’s George J. Bean Parkway is the primary road passengers use to get in and out of Tampa International Airport – and it’s critical that it is wide enough to handle the number of guests expected in the future.

The Airport is currently in the midst of adding one lane to each sides of the inbound and outbound Parkway, allowing the Airport to handle more than 34 million passengers per year. This widening project is well ahead of the original schedule due to the drop in traffic and is currently on pace to finish in late 2021. In addition to the extra lanes, the project also modernizes the overhead signage to help improve navigation around the airport.

SkyCenter One

TPA, along with VanTrust Real Estate, is building a nine-story office building, a connected atrium and other facilities.

The office building, known as SkyCenter One, has officially topped out and crews are installing thousands of square feet of glass curtain walls. The building’s exterior is expected to be complete in October.

Inside the building, rooms are getting framed out. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which manages TPA, will occupy three of the building’s floors and the official move-in date is slated for Spring 2022.

The completion date for the adjacent SkyCenter atrium is even closer with a wrap-up date of early 2021.

Taxiway A Bridge

Finally, last but not least, is the construction of a new Taxiway A Bridge. This bridge provides a vital link between TPA’s primary runways and continues to track on budget and ahead of schedule. Crews are busy working on the foundations, bridge deck and taxiway pavement – as well as the supporting infrastructure.

When complete, TPA will have three bridges that link its two primary runways.

Shortly after starting his job as a Traffic Specialist in 2008, the Tampa native took advantage of the Authority’s tuition reimbursement benefit and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. He then completed police academy training and became a Tampa International Airport Police Officer.

He quickly realized being a cop wasn’t for him and returned back to the Traffic Division in 2012 where he moved into a Senior Traffic Specialist role. Then, about a year and a half ago, he switched tracks again and took a job in the Procurement Department as a Property Control Specialist in TPA’s Central Warehouse.

The role is Anthony’s first time since joining the Authority that allows him to work daytime hours, which helps him to spend more time with his 6-year-old daughter. He loves the job, which involves managing and maintaining the Authority’s inventory and making deliveries to the various employees, facilities and departments throughout the airport and Authority. He handles everything from the beads TPA throws off of its Gasparilla Children’s Parade floats to the TVs the general aviation airports use for events to basic supplies and furniture to TPA offices.

“Any items that get depleted have to be reordered and replenished,” Anthony said. “Even though the airport traffic has slowed and we’re working split shifts to stay safe, we’re still just as busy serving our customers throughout the company. We work 24/7, assisting our HVAC and electrical workers and other employees who need parts or supplies to make repairs.”

To learn more about Anthony’s team and the Central Warehouse, go to https://www.tampaairport.com/materials-management.

Between Thursday, Sept. 3, and Monday, Sept. 7, more than 117,000 arriving and departing passengers traveled through TPA. On Friday, the Airport served nearly 27,000 passengers – its busiest day since the COVID-19 pandemic reduced business by more than 90 percent in late March and early April. 

“It’s encouraging to see our travelers have decided it’s time to fly again,” said John Tiliacos, TPA’s Executive Vice President of Operations and Customer Service. “Since the start of this pandemic, our goal has always been to make Tampa International Airport as safe and clean as possible for our passengers so they can travel comfortably when they’re ready to do so.”

TPA is still seeing significantly less traffic than it did prior to the pandemic slowdown. During the same Labor Day period last year, approximately 293,000 passengers flew through TPA.

September and October are typically the slowest travel months of the year for Florida airports. The Airport had a bleak spring break before seeing traffic pick up in June, hitting between 20,000 and 25,000 daily passengers.

But that traffic decreased in July alongside the rise in COVID-19 cases in Florida and TPA experienced a leveling off between 15,000 and 20,000 daily passengers throughout July and August.

TPA’s busiest periods are typically the five-week spring break period, Thanksgiving week and the two or three weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Day. Labor Day weekend is not usually considered a busy weekend for air travel.

"I like all the people and staying busy," Melaney said. "My favorite thing is to help customers who need a Spanish translator and I enjoy having the busier traffic."

She admits, during her first couple of record-breaking traffic holiday seasons, it was overwhelming.

"At first I was scared," she laughed. "I didn't know what to expect each day."

But she enjoys bringing order to chaos, much like her previous days of working at a daycare before coming to TPA. She worked on the ramp for Menzies Aviation before joining the Aviation Authority as a Traffic Specialist.

"We now have slow days and busy days," she said. "It comes and goes. I'm starting to enjoy the change of pace each day."

Then the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of daily life, creating big changes throughout his life, including in the AOC as the dispatchers, supervisors and trainees tried to shift and balance schedules to create distancing and backup teams. But the Training Academy moved forward, along with the entire AOC team learning a new CAD system.

“There was a period when we were adapting to the coronavirus where I and a handful of others were working from home,” Tony said. “It was interesting. One of the things I learned is it is not easy to lead a group of individuals who are essential from home. I came back and now I feel better connected with my team.”

On top of learning new ways to adapt to working during a pandemic, Tony is also learning to be a father. He and his wife, Heather Lash – who also works at TPA is an Airport Credentials Specialist – welcomed baby girl Ophelia 14 months ago. As essential workers, they both do everything they can to keep their surroundings clean and sanitized and avoid spreading or contracting germs.

“To the credit of our people in the AOC, we’ve been practicing this behavior since before it became popular,” Tony said. “They’re used to disinfecting shared workstations and dousing everything in alcohol. Our people were better prepared than most. We just limited the amount of movement and added masks.”

Hurricane season, which runs from June through November, typically peaks in mid-August through late October, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical Storms Laura and Marco are currently headed for the Gulf Coast and expected to bring a mix of high winds, heavy rain and potentially dangerous storm surge. These storms can disrupt air travel in the region, impacting flights to and from Tampa International Airport.

As always TPA recommends travelers monitor bad weather in their destination – and contact their airline for flight status updates.

Tampa International Airport is not currently expecting any severe weather impacts from the storms, but that doesn’t mean we don’t prepare for it. When Tropical Storm Laura's path was less certain, TPA’s Operations team was actively making preparations, finalizing storm checklists, getting personnel ready and providing daily updates to key decision-makers.

With hurricanes a part of life in Tampa Bay, TPA has implemented a robust hurricane plan that gets updated and refined every year.

To read more about the Airport’s hurricane preparations, check out this Tampa Bay Times story featuring Airport EVP of Operations and Customer Service John Tiliacos.

If you're like some of our passengers, you might be wearing it to protect those around you or yourself - or maybe you're wearing it because the sign outside of the Airport said it's mandatory. Whatever your reason, we thank each and every one of you for wearing your masks at Tampa International Airport.

Forgot your mask? We have N-95 masks along with wipes and hand sanitizer for sale at all of our news and convenience stores at each airside and in the Main Terminal. Branded masks are available for purchase at PGA Tour Shop and we have free face masks available at the information kiosk in the Main Terminal. 

Illustrato has been with the airport for 31 years and leaves as one of the highest-ranking and longest-tenured members of the TPA team. He has been a key team member on some of the most impactful projects and biggest milestones in the airport's history, including the construction of Airside C, a first-of-its-kind in-line baggage system and the Economy parking garages.

In his current role, Illustrato has been an integral part of the airport's billion dollar Master Plan Phase 1 expansion, which included a significant Main Terminal expansion, the redevelopment of 70 shops and restaurants , a 1.4 mile automated people mover and a 2.6-million square foot consolidated rental car facility. Illustrato has also led the implementation of Master Plan Phase 2, including the construction of 16 curbside lanes, a new Central Utilities Plant and the SkyCenter development area.

"When I got here about ten years ago, one of the first and best decisions I made was to promote Al," said TPA CEO Joe Lopano. "Looking around at the incredible quality of our facilities, I knew right away he would be a key member of my Executive Team and a driver of our success."

Illustrato joined the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority in 1989 as a manager, rising through the ranks over the years to eventually oversee the airport's largest department. His commitment to excellence has helped TPA garner global recognition year after year for the quality and ease-of-use of the airport's facilities.

"Working at this airport for the past 31 years has been the privilege of a lifetime," said Illustrato. "TPA is special to our travelers, the community and most of all, our team. I'm proud to have been able to watch it grow and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive for years to come."

Illustrato's last day at Tampa International Airport is September 30, 2020. TPA's Vice President of Planning and Development, Jeff Siddle, will continue to lead the airport's construction teams as well as the maintenance department following Illustrato's retirement.

The event took no more than ten minutes - but was years in the making.

“This is a culmination of years of effort by so many people,” said Executive Vice President of Facilities Al Illustrato. “From the vision led by our CEO Joe Lopano, to the unending hard work of so many of our team members and made possible by the support of our Board of Directors.”

With J.E. Dunn crews ending vertical construction work will now continue inside and out as crews work towards a mid-2021 completion date.

The office building, which is connected to the Main Terminal via the SkyConnect, is unique in the Tampa market. With unparalleled access to the Airport, it will feature 280,000 square feet of high-end office space, a 1-mile pedestrian train and some of the best views in the area.

The SkyCenter office building is a major part of Phase 2 of the Airport’s three-phase Master Plan expansion. The expansion will enable the Airport to accommodate up to 34 million annual passengers – helping propel the region forward. The office building allows the Airport to demolish the existing offices near the Main Terminal and reclaim the space to accommodate future growth.