TPA finalizes study that looks at the next 20 years of growth
Staff presented the 2022 Master Plan Update’s findings at the June Board of Directors meeting.
Tampa International Airport completed its 2022 Master Plan Update (MPU) and presented the study recommendations at today’s Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) June Board Meeting.
The FAA-required study began more than two years ago to analyze the Airport’s development needs over the next twenty years. The MPU is now clear to be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for final approval.
The MPU is a roadmap for cohesive airport development based on extensive analysis of market data, passenger activity, and industry trends. TPA currently serves an estimated 25 million annual passengers, but is projected to serve 34.6 million annual passengers by 2037.
“Tampa Bay is a thriving community that is growing by the day, and Tampa International Airport is growing right along with it,” said Smitha Radhakrishnan, the Airport’s Executive Vice President of Planning & Development and Maintenance. “Our team has done an excellent job of addressing the Airport’s needs in our Master Plan, and this update will continue our track record of successfully getting ahead of our region’s growth and delivering world-class facilities to our community and travelers for many years.”
Among its most important findings, the 2022 MPU revalidated the need for the construction of the new Airside D, which breaks ground in late 2024 and is expected to open to the public in 2028. Other MPU recommendations include:
- Expansion and modernization of the Ticketing Level in TPA’s Main Terminal
- Baggage Claim expansion
- Expanding the Employee Parking Lot north of the Main Terminal (approved in FY 2023 budget)
- Economy Parking Garage expansion
- Numerous runway and taxiway improvements
- Possible development sites for Advanced Air Mobility (electric-powered air taxis known as e-VTOLs) facilities on Airport property
- Designating the area north of the current Main Terminal and Airsides for potential future development
Long-term estimates conclude that by 2042, TPA will serve nearly 39 million passengers per year. The MPU study found that to meet that future demand, the Airport will likely need up to 22 additional aircraft gates (includes 16 from the new Airside D), 83 additional ticketing counters, and three to four more Baggage Claim carousels. The MPU is only a guide and executing individual projects recommended in the study will require careful planning and Board approval.
Consulting firm Ricondo and Associates led TPA’s 2022 Master Plan Update. During the study, the Airport held several public outreach meetings to educate the community about the MPU’s progress, receive feedback and answer any questions.
TPA will present the study recommendations to the Hillsborough County Planning Commission and the FAA this summer. The process concludes with the FAA creating TPA’s new Airport Layout Plan (ALP), which depicts the Airport’s existing facilities as well as planned development. TPA will launch its next Master Plan Update in five to seven years, as required by the FAA.
