TAMPA, Fla. — The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board has approved a revision of its 20-year master plan, after studies found a significant increase in passenger traffic in the coming two decades.

By 2042, the airport estimates it will see up to 39 million passengers a year, an increase of 36% over today’s 25 million passengers.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa International Airport estimates its annual passenger count will increase by 36 percent in the next 18 years

  • The Aviation Authority recently updated its 20-year master plan to address growth

  • The plan includes adding 22 new aircreaft gates to include the 16 at the new Airside D

  • 83 new ticket counters and as many as 4 new baggage claim carousels will also be needed

Expansion work has been underway for several years at the facility, with future plans that could include the construction of an additional 22 aircraft gates, including 16 at the new Airside D Terminal, 83 ticketing counters and as many as four new baggage claim carousels.

As expansion moves forward, the 20-year master plan is only a guide.

All new projects will be carefully reviewed by the Aviation Authority and be approved separately.

The airport will now submit its revised master plan to the FAA for final approval.

Smitha Radhakrishnan is executive vice president of Planning, Development and Maintenance at TPA and said the airport has been proactive, creating new and expanded infrastructure before passenger increases happen.

“It’s not just adding gates, or adding a terminal,” said Radhakrishnan. “It has to make sure we have the capacity in the road system, the baggage system, in our curbsides where people are dropped off and picked up. So all of that needs a lot of cohesive planning, and it can’t happen overnight.”