TPA to open first-in-the-U.S. express curbsides

[Uffda]

TPA to open first-in-the-U.S. express curbsides

Tampa International Airport will soon debut the new Blue Express Curbsides dedicated exclusively for passengers without checked bags, making TPA the first airport in the country to launch this innovative feature for its passengers.

The eight Blue Express Curbside lanes, expected to open Nov. 16 in time for the busy Thanksgiving holiday period, will allow passengers to get to and from their gates faster, bypassing the ticketing or bag claim levels, and improving the overall passenger experience.

https://news.tampaairport.com/tpa-to-op ... 89yCXiPqZg

[Uffda]

FDOT names TPA's Blue Express Curbsides as Florida's top commercial airport project of the year

The project, which opened in November 2021, is the first of its kind in the U.S., expediting time to and from the gates for passengers without checked baggage.

As part of this project, lanes doubled along the Blue Side for arrivals and departures. Since most passengers do not check bags, Express Curbsides were envisioned to allow passengers to get to and from their gates faster, bypassing the ticketing or bag claim levels and improving the overall passenger experience. Passengers dropped off at the Blue Express Curbsides take the elevator, escalator, or stairs up one level to the Main Terminal Transfer Level, where they can take a shuttle to their Airside’s TSA Security Checkpoint, thus eliminating the need to walk through the ticketing level.

For arriving travelers, it’s also a short walk from the Main Terminal to the Blue Express pick-up level, where they meet their driver, avoiding baggage claim altogether. This faster option also assists with the flow of passenger traffic throughout TPA and helps to alleviateFDOT award_2022 the build-up of long lines at check-in, security, and various other areas throughout the airport.

https://news.tampaairport.com/fdot-name ... vla_ANnXY8

[Uffda]

TPA’s Airside D advances as Aviation Authority Board approves FY23 budget

Tampa International Airport received the official go-ahead to start Phase 3 of its Master Plan, clearing a path for the construction of the new Airside D.

There is also a video on this page.

On Thursday, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved the Aviation Authority’s Fiscal Year 2023 Capital and Operating Budget, which includes the new $787.4 million terminal.

Airside D highlights:

* Construction is expected to start in 2024 and be completed in 2027
* The new terminal will enable the Airport to serve an additional 13 million passengers by 2037
* Airside D’s 16 gates will serve domestic and international flights, bringing TPA’s total gates to 72
* The building will be about 563,000 square feet with vast concessions space, an outdoor terrace, state-of-the-art Customs and security facilities, as well as new screening, gate check-in and bag processing technologies

https://news.tampaairport.com/tpas-airs ... stream=top

[Bob from Omaha]

Omaha should do that. That way it can grow to 50 million passengers per year too.

[Uffda]

There is a short video of the proposed Terminal D in this tweet.