The state gave an additional $9.25 million to the Chattanooga Airport for a new parking garage, bringing its total contribution to more than $22 million.
The state is expected to cover 95% of the budget for the four-story parking garage. The $35 million garage is on track to open in February, adding 1,600 spaces as the airport sets monthly records for passenger traffic.
“That won’t be a moment too soon, because we are extremely busy in our parking lots at this point in time,” Chattanooga Airport CEO April Cameron told the state-appointed board of commissioners Tuesday. “We can’t wait for that to open.”
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners listen as airport CEO April Cameron gives a presentation at the airport on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ A Chattanooga Airport employee unloads luggage from a plane during a meeting of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Chattanooga Airport CEO April Cameron presents to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners at the airport on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ A pickup truck drives past a fenced-off portion of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport parking garage on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The parking garage is anticipated to finish construction in February 2027. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Travelers walk along a crosswalk to reach the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport parking garage on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The parking garage is anticipated to finish construction in February 2027. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Chattanooga Airport CEO April Cameron, left, presents to the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners at the airport on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Fred Decosimo, board member of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, speaks during a board meeting at the airport on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Shannon Burger, chair of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority Board of Commissioners, speaks during a board meeting at the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. 
Staff Photo by Seth Carpenter/ Fences block off a portion of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport parking garage as travelers walk toward their cars on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. The parking garage is anticipated to finish construction in February 2027.
The airport’s other garage and short-term parking lot were full Tuesday as the board met. The airport has turned to shuttle service from an economy lot farther from the terminal to add capacity while the second garage is under construction.
The airport set all-time monthly records in August at more than 55,500 passenger boardings, and in September with nearly 58,800 passenger boardings, Cameron said. August traffic increased 2% over last year, and September traffic increased 5% over last year, she said.