Tampa International Airport Unveils $1.5B Blueprint for Future Growth with Airside D Terminal

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is set to unveil a new $1.5 billion Airside D terminal with 16 gates, the first new airside in almost 20 years. The project is being led by Greeley, Colorado-based contractor Hensel Phelps and Kansas City, Missouri-based architecture and engineering firm HNTB, alongside San Francisco-based Gensler. The airport and construction team broke ground on Airside D in December 2024 and has been prepping the site for major construction by removing concrete, installing fencing, and establishing contractor offices. However, the current $1.5 billion price tag is nearly double what Hensel Phelps originally won in 2023 due to inflation since the COVID-19 pandemic. Airside D will contain two levels, a mezzanine, a new shuttle system and guideway, and an international passenger arrival processing facility. It represents the third phase of the airport’s master plan, a blueprint for how it will deal with projected traveler growth. While TPA currently serves 25 million passengers annually, that’s projected to grow to 35 million passengers by 2037. Phases 1 and 2 of the plan included several major undertakings: the main terminal redevelopment, the SkyConnect Automated People Mover, a central utility plant, and the new SkyCenter One office building. The airport expects Airside D to open to the public in late 2028. To receive daily news and insights on construction projects like this one, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter.