At a Florida Economic Club gathering held at Voodoo Brewing Co. in St. Petersburg, St. Pete‑Clearwater International Airport (PIE) director Mark Sprague outlined a multi‑phase plan to upgrade the airport’s infrastructure.
Short‑term improvements
PIE will first address immediate inefficiencies by updating seating, wayfinding signage, roofing and lighting. The airport, which currently handles about 2.8 million passengers annually, also plans a 40,000‑square‑foot expansion that includes four new jet bridges.
Parking garage project
A $60 million, 2,000‑space parking garage will be built adjacent to the terminal. Construction is slated to begin in January 2027 and finish by spring 2028, responding to record‑breaking passenger growth over the past decade.
Long‑term terminal vision
While a larger terminal redesign was rescoped, PIE is still exploring concepts for a facility that could eventually serve 4.5‑5 million passengers. Sprague said the airport will keep existing structures when feasible, but will not hesitate to replace them if needed.
Land use and funding
The airport sits on roughly 2,000 acres, with about half actively used. Two adjacent parcels—the 128‑acre former Airco golf course and the 10‑acre former Turtle Club site—are under review for aeronautical and non‑aeronautical development, including business parks and hotels.
PIE is owned by Pinellas County but operates without tax dollars, relying on user fees, airline charges, lease rentals, concessions and federal and state grants. A new five‑year contract with Allegiant Airlines, celebrated with a November 16 anniversary event, remains a cornerstone of the airport’s growth strategy.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
