St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) celebrated its busiest July on record, with 295,268 passengers passing through the terminal. This milestone marks a 1% increase in passenger traffic for the year and a 2% rise in domestic travel.
Adding to this momentum, Allegiant Air will introduce a new non-stop route to Savannah, Georgia, starting in November. This will bring the airline’s total number of non-stop destinations from PIE to 62.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rapid growth brings about major expansion for PIE
In response to the rapid growth over the past decade, PIE has started the design phase of a major terminal expansion project. In 2023, the airport served over 2.4 million passengers, highlighting the need for increased capacity. The expansion will include more hold room space, additional concession vendors, expanded restroom facilities, and an upgraded baggage area. The project will also consolidate the airport’s two security checkpoints into one and add seven new passenger loading bridges, bringing the total to nine.
Once completed, the airport will have 12 departure/arrival gates and three additional overnight parking positions for aircraft. The design contract was awarded to C&S Companies in May 2024, and the airport is currently negotiating with a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for pre-construction services. The project is expected to receive approval from the Board of County Commissioners in November 2024, with a total budget of $110 million.
ADVERTISEMENT
