Ruth Haines
Tampa International Airport (TPA) is one of the busiest airports in the US, located 11km west of Tampa, Florida. The airport has four active airside terminals, Airsides A, C, E, and F, with 59 gates in total. Airside A has 16 gates, Airside C has 16 gates, Airside E has 13 gates, and Airside F has 14 gates. A new Airside D is currently under construction and is set to open in 2028, adding 16 more gates to the airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of gates | 59 |
| Number of active airside terminals | 4 |
| Number of runways | 3 |
| Distance from downtown Tampa | 6 miles (9.7 km) or 8 miles (9 km) or 11km |
| Number of destinations served | 75 domestic and 20 international |
| Number of airlines operating from TPA | 14 |
| Number of lounges | 3 |
| Number of levels in the terminal | 3 |
| Number of parking spaces | 23,214 |
What You'll Learn
Tampa International Airport has four active airside terminals
A central Landside Terminal is where baggage and ticketing functions take place, with four Airside satellites where passengers embark and disembark from their flights. Each Airside is connected to the Landside Terminal via an automated people mover system, with Bombardier Innovia APM 100 Shuttle Cars currently being replaced by Bombardier Innovia APM 300R C801B. This was the world's first fully automated, driver-free people mover system.
Airlines operating from Airside A include JetBlue, Silver Airways, Spirit, and United. Airside A has 16 gates, numbered 1, 3, 4 to 12, and 14 to 18.
Airlines operating from Airside C include Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airlines, Southwest, and Sun Country Airlines. Airside C also has 16 gates, numbered 30 to 45.
Air Canada, Delta Air Lines, and Frontier operate from Airside E, which has 13 gates, numbered 62 and 64 to 75.
Airside F is the main international terminal, with 14 gates, numbered 78 to 90. Airlines operating from here include American Airlines, which has an Admirals Club adjacent to gate 85.
In addition to the four active airside terminals, a fifth, Airside D, is currently under construction and is set to open in 2028. This will feature 16 gates to handle both international and domestic flights, as well as two new airline lounges.
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The airport is served by multiple transport options
Tampa International Airport is served by a variety of transport options, making it easy to access surrounding areas. The airport is located six miles west of Downtown Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida.
Rental Cars
The Rental Car Center is located near the southern edge of the airport and can be reached via the SkyConnect train from the Main Terminal. Several rental car companies are available, including Ace Rent A Car, American Rent A Car, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, and Fox Rent A Car.
Bus Service/Public Transportation
The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus stop is located at the Rental Car Center. The PSTA Route 300X Airport Express bus operates from Largo to downtown Tampa via the airport. Additionally, Greyhound provides bus services from downtown Tampa to various destinations, including Orlando and Walt Disney World.
Taxi Services
Taxi services, such as Yellow Cab and United Cab, are available at the curbside outside the Baggage Claim Level. Fares typically start at $3.50 for the first 1/5 of a mile, with a minimum fee of $20 from the airport. A flat rate of $35 is charged for trips to downtown Tampa and the cruise terminal.
Ride-Share Services
Ride-share companies like Lyft, Uber, and Wridz can pick up passengers from the Red Baggage Claim, Blue Express Curbside, or the SkyCenter One office building's remote curbside. A $5 service fee is added to the cost of the fare.
Airport Shuttle Services
SuperShuttle provides private and shared ride shuttle services from the airport to Tampa and beyond. They offer advanced reservations and upfront pricing for stress-free travel.
Peer-to-Peer Vehicle Sharing
Peer-to-peer vehicle sharing is permitted in the Economy Parking Garage, which can be accessed via the SkyConnect train from the Main Terminal.
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It has a unique layout
Tampa International Airport has a unique layout. The airport is encircled by the aircraft runway and taxi areas, with public road access via a taxiway leading into the terminal and parking areas. The airport has one central terminal located in the middle of the airport, with separate monorail lines running to and from four airside concourses.
The terminal at Tampa Airport has three levels. Level 1 is for baggage claim, which is split into two sections: one for red category airlines and one for blue. Level 2 is for ticketing, with curbside drop-offs labelled Blue Departures Drive and Red Departures Drive, allowing passengers to choose the best entry point for their airline. Level 3 is the transfer level, where passengers can pick up the relevant monorail to their departure concourse.
The four airside concourses are located at the corners of the airport. Concourse A, in the southeast corner, has 16 gates and a small selection of shops and restaurants. Concourse C, in the northeast corner, has 16 gates and a good range of restaurants and shops, including a smoking area. Concourse E, in the northwest corner, has 13 gates, a small selection of shops and restaurants, and two smoking areas. Concourse F, in the southwest corner, is the main international terminal, with 13 gates and a good selection of restaurants, shops, and duty-free stores.
The airport's innovative design reduces walking distances and simplifies the screening process, improving the overall passenger experience.
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The airport is undergoing a three-phased expansion plan
Tampa International Airport is undergoing a three-phased expansion plan to increase its capacity and improve the overall airport experience for passengers. The airport is owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) and has been recognised for its innovation and sustainable efforts, ranking highly in customer satisfaction surveys.
The three phases of the expansion plan are Decongestion, Enabling, and Expansion. Phase 1, Decongestion, was completed on time and within budget in 2017/2018. It included a 50,000-square-foot expansion of the main terminal, renovation of concession areas, shuttle lobbies, elevators, and escalators. Additionally, a new 1,200-space Consolidated Rental Car Facility (ConRAC) was added to reduce airport traffic, along with a new 1.4-mile Automated People Mover (APM) System.
Phase 2, Enabling, is currently in progress with a planned completion date of 2021/2022. This phase includes expanding the Main Terminal Curbside for arrivals and departures, constructing a new Central Utility Plant, and demolishing the existing Red Side Garage to make room for new work. A new Taxiway A will be built, and the existing parkway, which serves as the main airport entrance, will be expanded.
Phase 3, Expansion, will see the construction of a new Airside D, which will be the fifth airside terminal and the first new one in over 17 years. This phase is expected to begin construction in 2024 and be completed by 2027. Airside D will feature 16 new gates, bringing the total number of gates at the airport to 72. It will also offer vast concessions space, an outdoor terrace, state-of-the-art Customs and security facilities, and new screening and bag processing technologies. This final phase will enable the airport to serve an additional 13 million passengers by 2037, increasing the total annual passenger capacity to 35 million.
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The airport has won several awards
Tampa International Airport has won several awards over the years. In 2007 and 2008, Zagat Survey ranked it the Best Overall U.S. Airport, and it placed second best overall in 2009 and 2010. In 2008, Condé Nast Traveler recognised the airport as the second-best airport in the world, just two-tenths of a point behind the winner.
In 2016, it was named one of the Top 3 airports in the country by Condé Nast. In 2020, Airports Council International named it the best airport in North America for its size. Two years later, in 2024, Travel+Leisure ranked it the eighth-best domestic airport in the US. The criteria for these rankings were based on access, check-in, restaurants, shopping, and design.
Tampa International Airport has also consistently received high customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Associates over the years. In 2023, it was named the second-best large airport in the country by USA Today readers. The airport's many bars, restaurants, and souvenir shops, as well as the city's quick access to top Gulf Coast vacation destinations, were all factors in its nomination.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 59 gates across four airside terminals at Tampa Airport.
Airside A and C have 16 gates each, while Airside E has 13 and Airside F has 14.
Yes, a new Airside D is currently under construction and is set to open in 2028. It will feature 16 gates, bringing the total number of gates at Tampa Airport to 75.
Delta Airlines has been selected to be the anchor tenant of the new Airside D.
