Tampa International Airport’s governing board approved the final design Thursday for Airside D, the first new Airside terminal at TPA in nearly 20 years.
The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors voted to greenlight the 100% design stage for the 16-gate international and domestic terminal, a project the airport estimates will cost $1.528 billion.
The board also approved a $902 million supplemental contract for the Airside D project.
Construction is scheduled to go vertical this year and be completed in late 2028, with the building opening to the public in 2029.
“Airside D is more than a new terminal; it is a bold vision for the future of travel in Tampa Bay,” said Airport CEO Michael Stephens. “Once complete, Airside D will serve as Tampa Bay’s international gateway, welcoming the world with the world-class experience our guests expect from TPA.”
A bigger airside built for Tampa Bay’s growth
The airport said Airside D is designed to help TPA, which currently serves about 25 million passengers per year, accommodate regional growth and reach up to 35 million annual passengers by 2037.
The terminal will be 600,000 square feet, making it the largest Airside at TPA.
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TPA released a final round of interior and exterior renderings and a new animation showing an open interior with high ceilings, natural light and greenery.
The design also includes a tribute to former Airport CEO Joe Lopano, who retired last April. A quote mounted on a wall will greet visitors: “We set our sights on a grand future because we have the ability to think big and achieve greatness. We owe it to our predecessors on whose shoulders we stand.”
Amenities shaped by traveler feedback
Airport officials said the final design incorporates feedback gathered during listening sessions held last summer in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
TPA said the community input helped drive several additions, including more power outlets, more plants and greenery, a dedicated children’s play area and a quiet room for travelers dealing with sensory overload.
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“From the beginning, the guiding principle behind Airside D has been a singular focus on delivering the very best amenities and travel experience to the millions of passengers who visit TPA each year,” said TPA Chief Development Officer Smitha Radhakrishnan.
Key features and the design team
TPA said Airside D will include cutting-edge shuttles, a modern TSA security screening checkpoint, a ground-level inspection facility for international arrivals and a mezzanine level with a new Delta Sky Club and a common-use lounge.
The airport also said the terminal will feature glass boarding bridges, dynamic media displays and shopping and dining locations designed around 360-degree views of the gates.
The design-build team is led by Hensel Phelps, with HNTB Corporation in association with Gensler, according to the release.
More projects approved Thursday
In other business, the board selected Austin Industries, Inc. as the design-builder for an expansion of the Main Terminal’s Ticketing Level.
TPA said the project will modernize the second floor, add 28 new counter locations, relocate airline office space into a centralized 30,000-square-foot area and renovate the 135,000-square-foot floor to improve circulation and incorporate updated technology.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029.
The Aviation Authority also announced a Call for Artists to add eight new commissions to the airport’s public art collection. Six of the installations will be in Airside D, with one each planned for the expanded security screening checkpoints in Airsides A and E, which opened in 2025.
What comes next
TPA broke ground on Airside D in December 2024 and has been preparing the site for major construction.
The airport said enabling work has included removing and recycling concrete, installing secure fencing and establishing contractor offices.
The airport said crews are now building foundations, with structural steel framing expected to begin this summer.
Airside D will also include more than 10 food and retail units as part of an airport-wide concessions redevelopment program expected to launch within the next year.
