The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA) Board of Directors has approved a Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes funding for construction projects at Tampa International Airport (TPA) to accommodate ongoing growth.
The budget, covering the period from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2026, anticipates a 3.2 percent rise in passenger traffic at TPA compared with FY2025, bringing the total to approximately 25.7 million travellers.
The Board approved the budget unanimously at its meeting on 4 September. The approval allows the Authority to proceed with a capital programme comprising 34 projects with a combined value of 835.5 million USD. Among the planned projects are updates to the airport’s checked baggage system and the Main Terminal Ticketing Level.
The budget allocates 298.6 million USD to modernise the checked baggage system across all Airside terminals. The upgrade will centralise control of the system, improve efficiency in baggage drop-off, reduce maintenance requirements, and adjust the Main Terminal layout to accommodate future passenger growth. The project is scheduled for completion in late 2028.
The Ticketing Level on the second floor of the Main Terminal is set to receive 285.7 million USD for expansion and renovation. The project will provide additional ticket counter space and relocate airline offices from behind the counters to a consolidated area on the west side of the building. Counters will be repositioned to allow more space for passenger queues and check-in kiosks. The Ticketing Level upgrade is expected to be finished in late 2029.
These projects are intended to streamline the check-in process and align the airport’s facilities with current travel patterns. They will operate alongside the construction of the new 16-gate Airside D, which began in December and is scheduled for completion in late 2028. Airside D is planned to support TPA’s projected growth to nearly 35 million annual passengers by 2037.
The capital programme also includes funding for runway and taxiway maintenance, new passenger boarding bridges for Airside E, and other projects. Approximately $807.3 million of the total programme will be financed through Authority reserves or debt issuance.
Operating expenses at TPA are projected to increase by 7.5 million USD, reaching 212.1 million USD, while revenues are expected to rise by 12.8 million USD to 493 million USD. This results in a projected pre-capital balance of 174.6 million USD.
