America’s airports are getting a massive makeover. From coast to coast, terminals old and new are being redesigned to handle record passenger volumes, tougher sustainability standards, and changing traveler expectations. After years of pandemic disruption and strained capacity, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for construction, with billions of dollars in public and private funding flowing into terminals, runways, and supporting infrastructure.
Big hubs like San Diego, San Francisco, and Newark are breaking ground on next-generation terminals designed for flexibility, efficiency, and comfort. Mid-size airports like Sacramento and Columbus are also expanding aggressively, vying to capture new domestic and international routes. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other federal funding streams injecting life into long-delayed projects, the next wave of airport construction will define how Americans fly for decades to come.
Here’s a closer look at some of the standout terminal projects taking shape in 2025 — and why they matter.
DFW International Airport Terminal F
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport) is undergoing one of the largest airport expansions in the U.S. Terminal F is a flagship project within DFW’s $12 billion “DFW Forward” capital plan, which also includes a $3 billion transformation of Terminal C and improvements to Terminal A.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) – Terminal 1 Replacement
San Diego’s New T1 is one of the most ambitious airport projects on the West Coast. The aging Terminal 1 is being demolished and replaced with a sleek, sustainable 19-gate facility. In addition to modern gates and lounges, the project includes expanded roadways, a massive parking structure, and significant sustainability upgrades. The first phase opens late 2025, with full completion by 2028.
John Glenn Columbus International (CMH) – Brand-New Terminal
Columbus is stepping up to match its growth. The new terminal will cover more than a million square feet, adding seven gates, a spacious new marketplace, an integrated parking deck, and an elevated pedestrian bridge. The groundbreaking is scheduled for 2025, with a ribbon-cutting planned for 2029. In February The Columbus Regional Airport Authority Board (CRAA) approved over $350 million in additional funding for the $2 billion John Glenn Columbus International Airport new terminal project
Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) – Terminal Modernization
Pittsburgh (PIT) is betting big on sustainability and local pride. The Terminal Modernization Program is building a 700,000-square-foot landside terminal and a 3,300-space garage, powered partly by the airport’s own microgrid. Expect a bright, airy design that incorporates local materials and green features when it opens in late 2025 at a cost of $1.57 billion.
Sacramento International Airport (SMF) – SMForward Program
Sacramento’s SMForward initiative is reshaping the passenger experience with new gates, a state-of-the-art pedestrian walkway, a huge new garage with electric vehicle charging, and an improved ground transportation hub. The walkway is scheduled to open in spring 2026, with major concourse expansions beginning in late 2025.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) – Airside D Terminal
With traffic booming, Tampa is finally adding a new airside terminal — its first in nearly two decades. The 16-gate Airside D will boost international capacity and improve passenger flow with expanded lounges, retail space, and state-of-the-art security processing. Completion is planned for 2028. The new Tampa International Airport Airside D Terminal will cost approximately $1.5 billion and cover around 600,000 square feet
Nashville International Airport (BNA) – New Horizons Plan
Nashville’s “New Horizons” expansion reflects Music City’s rapid rise. Its new Concourse D opens mid-2025 with five additional gates, local dining, outdoor terraces, and the airport’s first moving walkway. Upgrades to other concourses and baggage systems will follow through 2028.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Terminal 3 Revamp
Fresh off its award-winning Harvey Milk Terminal 1, SFO is now revamping Terminal 3. The multi-phase project will modernize one of the airport’s busiest hubs, adding open spaces, upgraded gates, and new retail. The overhaul runs through 2029 and helps SFO compete as a top West Coast international gateway.
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) – CLEvolution
Cleveland is finally tackling a long-needed rebuild. The CLEvolution project modernizes ticketing, security, gates, and roadways in phases through 2032. Phase 1 construction starts in 2025, bringing more space and improved flow to a terminal that’s served the city since the 1950s. Cleveland City Council approved new legislation that will launch construction of the brand-new $1.6 billion terminal slated to open by 2032,
Miami International Airport Concourse K
Miami International Airport has officially broken ground on Concourse K, its first terminal expansion since 2007. The project marks a major step in the airport’s $9 billion “Future-Ready Modernization in Action” initiative aimed at overhauling air travel infrastructure.
The $600.6 million project will transform the airport’s capabilities, delivering six new gates, an aircraft apron with a fuel hydrant system, and significant improvements to both ground operations and baggage handling.
What It Means
Together, these projects show how the US aviation sector is embracing sustainability, smarter design, and greater capacity — all while keeping day-to-day operations running. With billions invested and millions of travelers to serve, 2025 will be a milestone year for the future of American air travel.
