USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 25, No. 17
April 23, 2025
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
TRANSFORMING TRAVEL
PENSACOLA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MAKES WAY FOR EXPANSION
By Nicole Willis
A
s the travel hub for Northwest Florida and much of lower Alabama, the Pensacola International Airport (PNS) is receiving an overdue expansion. With 104 percent growth in passenger traffic over the past decade, PNS is embarking on a multi-phase expansion project to accommodate increasing demand and help position the airport for future success. In 2024 alone, PNS saw more than 3.03 million passengers, an increase from 2023’s 2.73 million. With the rise in the number of travelers, PNS has put forth its new Terminal Expansion and Modernization Program (TEMP) to better meet the travelers’ demands. This project is expected to increase the airport’s overall capacity by about 50 percent. The TEMP is part of the airport’s long-term vision to support economic growth, improve regional connectivity, and enhance the efficiency of air travel. The project is supported by federal grants, local investment and partnerships with key aviation stakeholders. The main goal of the TEMP is to accommodate this vast growth by offering more space for passen-
gers within the airport, more flight options to meet the demands of travelers and an overall enhanced travel experience for all who enter PNS. The expansion will span approximately 50,000 square feet, which is a significant increase compared to the airport’s current 159,000-square-foot space. “Pensacola International Airport is experiencing record growth, and TEMP is a direct response to that demand. By investing in infrastructure now, we’re not just meeting today’s needs—we’re positioning Pensacola as a premier gateway for business and tourism for decades to come," Pensacola International Airport Executive Director Matt Coughlin said. The expansion project will introduce three key features—an expanded security area, new boarding gates and increased space for restaurant vendors. The larger, expanded security area will provide more room for passengers and reduce wait times through the security process. It will also feature a dedicated “recomposure area” for travelers to get situated after going through the TSA checkpoint. Five boarding gates will also be added as part of the expansion, increasing the airport’s total number of gates to 17. The new five-
gate concourse will increase the number of daily flights out of PNS. Another major component of the TEMP is the addition of more restaurant and concession spaces for food and drink sales, providing convenient options for passengers traveling through the nearby gates. This additional concession space will also allow PNS to introduce more food vendors, offering passengers a more varied selection of food and beverage options. With the additional gate capacity, ungraded amenities and advanced security features, the TEMP will help to improve overall airport infrastructure positioning PNS to better serve the needs of travelers and our local community. "Our airport serves as a front door to Pensacola and the greater Gulf Coast, and this expansion allows us to better accommodate travelers, businesses and airlines alike. As our region grows, Pensacola International Airport is growing with it,” Coughlin explained. The Pensacola community has played a role in the project’s advancement. In December 2024, PNS hosted a public open house to answer questions and receive the community’s feedback on preliminary design plans. The expansion’s design is being led by luis vidal + architects, an architectural firm headquartered in Madrid, Spain, with the help of Ontario-based EXP, a multidisciplinary firm offering engineering, architecture, design and consulting services. The two companies have been brought on to tackle the architectural and engineering design efforts for the new five-gate concourse. The expanded terminal building will feature an open floor plan, plenty of natural light, a coastal Pensacola-inspired color palette and roofs designed to resemble Pensacola Beach’s beautiful sand dunes.
Images courtesy of luis vidal + architects At least 15 percent of the design latest updates, project details and is currently complete, with 30 community engagement opportupercent of the design’s completion nities for the program. The website is due on April 22. Construction on offers visitors an interactive and the expanded region of PNS is set to user-friendly experience, featuring: begin on September 30, 2025. The • Project Overview security expansion portion is anticiA detailed look at the Terminal pated to be completed in 2027. Expansion and Modernization The current estimated cost for Program’s goals, phases and the TEMP is $90 million. Funding for expected benefits. the project has and will come from a • Latest News & Updates variety of sources. In October 2024, Timely announcements on the Federal Aviation Administration construction milestones, new (FAA) awarded a $4 million grant features and project progress. to support the project. This grant is • Community Engagement a part of the Bipartisan InfrastrucInformation on public meetture Law Airport Terminal Program, ings, feedback opportunities which supports the modernization of and ways for the community airport terminals across the country. to be involved in the The City of Pensacola has also expansion process. pursued and established addi• Visuals & Renderings tional state and federal funding. Concept images, blueprints After all funding is received, any and video updates showcasremaining costs for the project will ing the future of PNS. be funded through bonds backed by the airport’s future revenue. Additional real-time updates While the program will help the will be posted as the project passengers traveling within the progresses to ensure the public next few years, it will also support and stakeholders have access to the the airport’s future growth for years most current information available. to come. “Pensacola International Airport " This expansion is about continues to grow as a key gateway more than just adding gates and to the Gulf Coast, and this expanmodernizing facilities—it’s about sion is critical to ensuring we shaping the future of air travel in provide the best possible experiPensacola," said Coughlin. “We’re ence for our travelers,” Coughlin building an airport that reflects the said. “TransformPNS.com allows innovation and economic vitality us to keep our passengers and of our community while ensuring stakeholders engaged, informed, a first-class experience for all who and excited about the future of PNS.” pass through our doors.” PNS connects over three million The TEMP is part of the airport’s passengers per year and offers over 20-year master plan. This plan 20 nonstop flights to major cities includes a list of projects, includacross the United States. ing the new 435-space parking lot For complete details and to explore on Tippin Avenue that opened in the latest updates on the expansion November 2024. project, visit transformpns.com. In April 2025, PNS announced For more information on flights the launch of TransformPNS.com, and services at PNS, visit the website a dedicated website providing the flypensacola.com. ■
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