CLEARWATER, Fla. — The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport has secured funding for its largest terminal renovation yet.
Renovations on the airport terminal, which was first constructed in 1957, are expected to cost just upwards of $110 million.
According to public relations director Michele Routh, the funding is coming from multiple sources including the FFA, TSA, Department of Transportation and airport funds.
The airport is part of Pinellas County government and functions as an enterprise department, which Routh says means they have to generate revenues similar to a regular business.
“We’re also a ‘pay as you go’ airport so we have to assemble all of our revenues beforehand,” she explained.
The terminal improvements include consolidating both TSA checkpoints into one which would merge the two separate gate areas, adding additional gates, 4 renovated gate areas with jet bridges, additional concessions, and improvements for ADA accessibility.
“With the growth we’ve seen over the last decade we need to continue to plan for that,” Routh said.
While corporate airlines account for the majority of flights coming in and out of the St. Pete-Clearwater Airport, Allegiant is driving the majority of commercial traffic. To date, they have 61 non-stop routes from St. Pete-Clearwater and are upping that number to 64 early this summer.
Airport officials hope to have a contract in front of the Pinellas County commission this summer and contractor C&S Companies will begin the design phase later this year.
The St. Pete-Clearwater Airport is holding a job fair on March 26 and hiring for a number of positions including TSA, parking attendants, Allegiant Airlines staff, and the U.S Coast Guard is participating as well.
It's being held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and candidates are asked to bring their resumes, everything needed to apply, and come ready to interview.