The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) has approved the final design and funding for Tampa International Airport’s first new airside terminal in nearly two decades, clearing the way for full vertical construction this year. The 600,000-square-foot Airside D terminal is estimated to cost $1.53 billion, and the board also authorized a $902 million supplemental contract to move the project into its main construction phase.

Airside D is scheduled to be completed in late 2028, with the terminal expected to open to passengers in 2029. Once operational, the 16-gate facility will serve both domestic and international flights and function as Tampa International Airport’s primary international gateway.

The project is being delivered by a design-build team led by Hensel Phelps, with architecture and engineering firm HNTB Corporation and associate architect Gensler. The Beck Group is providing preconstruction services, while Crisdel Group Inc. is handling site redevelopment and apron construction. Delta Air Lines has been named the anchor tenant and will operate a new Delta Sky Club on the terminal’s mezzanine level.

Capacity expansion tied to regional growth

Tampa International Airport currently serves about 25 million passengers annually. Airport officials say Airside D is critical to accommodating long-term growth, with the airport projecting passenger volumes could reach 35 million per year by 2037.

At 600,000 square feet, Airside D will be the largest airside facility at TPA, surpassing existing terminals in both size and passenger-handling capacity. The terminal will include a modern TSA screening checkpoint, a ground-level international arrivals inspection facility, and automated people-mover shuttles compatible with systems being installed at Airsides A, C, and E.

The design also includes glass boarding bridges, central shopping and dining areas with 360-degree gate views, and large-scale digital media installations.

Amenities shaped by passenger feedback

Unlike earlier terminal projects at TPA, the final design for Airside D incorporates features added following a series of public listening sessions held last summer across Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties.

Those additions include a dedicated children’s play area, a quiet room intended for passengers experiencing sensory overload, expanded access to power outlets, and increased use of plants and greenery throughout the interior. Airport officials said the changes were driven directly by traveler feedback rather than operational requirements.

The terminal will also include more than 10 food and retail units as part of TPA’s broader, multi-phase concessions redevelopment program, which the airport plans to launch within the next year.

Funding and construction progress

The Airside D project is being financed through a mix of airport reserves, state and federal grants, and airport-issued bonds. Funding sources include approximately $130 million from the Florida Department of Transportation and $40 million from the Federal Aviation Administration.

TPA broke ground on the project in December 2024 and has spent the past year preparing the site, including demolishing existing pavement, installing secure fencing, relocating utilities, and constructing contractor offices. Removed concrete was recycled for reuse on-site.

Foundation work for Tampa International Airport’s Airside D terminal is largely complete, with crews having driven approximately 1,500 ductile iron pipes to establish the base for the new facility. Site preparation, including concrete removal and foundation installation, wrapped up as of February 2026, and the project is now preparing drainage systems and final design elements before structural steel framing begins this summer.

A long-term investment

Airside D represents the airport’s largest capital project since the early 2000s and reflects a broader trend among large U.S. airports investing in capacity expansion rather than incremental renovations. With construction set to span more than four years, the terminal is designed to meet demand well into the next decade rather than address short-term congestion.

Airport officials say the facility’s scale and international focus position Tampa to compete more directly with larger regional hubs as air travel demand in Florida continues to grow. Tampa International Airport’s Airside D follows a growing trend in the state, similar to Miami International Airport, which began construction on its first new terminal in nearly 20 years with the Concourse K expansion in 2025.

Project Factsheet: Tampa International Airport Airside D Terminal

Overview

Owner: Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA)

Location: Tampa International Airport, Tampa, Florida

Project Type: New airport terminal construction

Total Project Cost: $1.528 billion

Facility Size: 600,000 square feet

Capacity: 16 gates (domestic and international)

Significance: First new Airside terminal at TPA in nearly 20 years

Project Team

Project sponsor: Tampa International Airport (TPA)

Owner/operator: Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA)

Design-Build Team (Lead)

General Contractor: Hensel Phelps (Lead)

Architecture & Engineering: HNTB Corporation

Associate Architect/Interior Design: Gensler

Preconstruction Services: The Beck Group

Site Redevelopment & Apron Construction: Crisdel Group Inc.

Anchor Tenant

Delta Air Lines

Project Timeline

December 18, 2024: Official groundbreaking and start of site preparation

November 2025: Foundation work completion (approximately 1,500 iron pipes driven)

February 5, 2026: 100% design milestone reached; final renderings unveiled

Summer 2026: Vertical construction (structural steel framing) begins

Late 2028: Construction completion scheduled

2029: Public opening of terminal

Funding Sources

Airport reserves

Airport-issued bonds

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant: approximately $40 million

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) grant: approximately $130 million

$902 million supplemental contract approved February 5, 2026

Key Features & Amenities

Terminal Infrastructure

16 gates for domestic and international flights

Modern TSA security screening checkpoint

Ground-level international arrivals inspection facility

Cutting-edge shuttle system matching new models at Airsides A, C, and E

Glass boarding bridges with scenic airfield views

Passenger Amenities

Delta Sky Club (mezzanine level)

Common-use lounge (mezzanine level)

Dedicated children’s play area

Quiet room for sensory relief

More than 10 food and retail units

Enhanced power outlet availability throughout facility

Abundant plants and greenery for relaxing environment

Innovative digital media displays with moving images and animation

Shopping and dining with 360-degree views of gates

Design Highlights

Open, airy interior with soaring ceilings

Abundant natural light throughout

Community-driven design based on public feedback sessions

Tribute wall featuring quote from former CEO Joe Lopano

Largest Airside at TPA at 600,000 square feet

Project Objectives

Serve as Tampa Bay’s premier international gateway

Increase TPA capacity from 25 million to 35 million annual passengers by 2037

Accommodate regional growth and travel demand

Deliver world-class passenger experience

Set new standard for innovation, service, and hospitality

Showcase beauty of Tampa Bay region through design

Current Status

Phase: Transition from site preparation to vertical construction

Site Work Completed: Concrete removal and recycling, secure fencing installation, contractor office establishment

Foundation Status: Nearly completed with approximately 1,500 iron pipes driven into ground

Next Milestone: Structural steel framing to begin Summer 2026

Current Focus: Preparing site for major vertical construction