NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A major airport renovation is underway at at Nashville International Airport, set for completion in 2023. But as the work continues, airport officials are already looking at what's needed 20 years from now.
It's a symptom of Nashville's growth: the need for a larger capacity airport. In 2019, BNA broke the record for passenger volume in a single day three separate times, on May 5, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6, according to airport records.
It's a big factor in the current BNA Vision plan, which includes a massive renovation and expansion at the airport.
"What we're going to open in 2023 will be spectacular," said Tom Jurkovich, BNA VP of Communications and Public Affairs.
In three years or less, passengers will walk into a completely new lobby, see a new Concourse D, new gates, ten additional security lines, an international arrivals building, a hotel, more parking and 90 new shops and restaurants.
"We want concepts that reflect Nashville, we want authentic food and retail concepts at the airport," Jurkovich said.
But in 20 years, airport staff expect passenger volume to double what it is now, up to 35 million passengers per year. And they want ideas from members of the public for how they should grow long term.
That means, residents shouldn't expect construction to stop when the current project does.
"That requires more gates, more space," Jurkovich said, "that could require a second terminal, we may very well have to expand one of our runways."
The public is invited to an open house Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the One Century Place Conference Center on 26 Century Blvd.
"Folks can provide input about what they think we should be doing, but we want them to see what the airport is going to have to do in order to accommodate this passenger growth," Jurkovich said.
It's the next step to help keep the airport soaring, like our city, to new heights.
No taxpayer money is used for airport renovations or upgrades. Instead BNA uses bonds, grants, and money from fees.
Check out the full plan for the current BNA Vision Project here.
