Chattanooga Airport's ongoing $28 million passenger terminal expansion, the most expensive ever at Lovell Field, is nearly half finished with the exterior work about 90% complete, officials said.
"We're weathered in," said Terry Hart, the airport's chief executive, about the expansion. "A lot of the exterior is completed."
Hart said Monday during a behind-the-scenes tour for the Airport Authority of the work that started last year that the next major task is temporarily shifting the Transportation Security Administration's passenger checkpoint area.
"The next big piece is to move TSA into a temporary area so they can build out the existing area," he said, adding that the relocation could begin in May.
The airport CEO said plans are to increase the number of checkpoint lanes from two to three and, ultimately, to four to move passengers more quickly into the concourse and the loading gates. Hart said the new part of the checkpoint area has a lot of natural light from windows already installed.
When the 22-month terminal expansion is finished in 2024, the project will have added 26,000 square feet and renovated 36,000 square feet, according to the airport. Along with enlarging the checkpoint area, the project will bolster amenities for travelers and add new gates so passengers can board more planes.
Airport officials said they're hopeful the air travel industry, which was hit hard by the pandemic, will grow faster by the time the revamped passenger terminal work is complete.
While the airport's final 2022 boardings came in at 432,312 passengers, up sharply over 2021, the level was still 21.9% behind the all-time annual mark of 554,050 boardings in 2019. Chattanooga Airport figures showed Monday that passenger traffic in the first three months of 2023 is up 17.3% versus the same period a year ago.
Jim Hall, the Airport Authority's chairman, said Monday at a meeting of the panel that officials are trying to ready for airlines potentially adding service in the future.
"This board is leading in trying to be sure this airport is in a position to take advantage of that," he said.
Hall, a former National Transportation Safety Board chairman, said the airport is waiting on the airlines' increasing seat capacity and the hiring of more pilots, and the Federal Aviation Administration employing additional air traffic controllers.
"We're confident we'll see an increase in growth as we move into the next year," he said.
Hart said overall work on the expansion is "well on pace."
He said the roof of the new space is roughed in with one heating and air-conditioning unit already set, another to undergo installation soon and two more to come. Hart said added window work is taking place, though that's almost finished.
Inside, a lot of framing is underway with the walls about 85% complete, the airport CEO said. Drywall installation is at 65%, with electrical work and drainage and preliminary plumbing at 85%, he said. Hart added that the terrazzo floor is starting to go down.
Dan Jacobson, the Airport Authority's vice chairman, said during the tour that more natural light will boost the look of the terminal.
"It's almost magical," he said.
The project will offer three more gates for boarding planes behind the existing baggage claim area as airport officials try to attract more nonstop flights to cities such as Denver and Miami. Also, a restaurant, bar and added restrooms will go in past the security checkpoint.
Hart said 90% of the expansion cost is covered by the FAA or Lovell Field's existing passenger facility charge, a fee that is placed on each ticket. The airport will pay the remaining cost, he said.
Nearly two years ago, the airport opened a $25 million, four-level parking garage, the first at Lovell Field. The garage has 1,300 spaces.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.
Staff photo by Mike Pare / Terry Hart, center, Chattanooga Airport's CEO, talks about work on the passenger terminal expansion to airport officials on Monday.