Asheville Airport Update: New terminal underway for $400M AVL Forward project

ASHEVILLE – Asheville Regional Airport's plans to build a new north terminal have taken flight with recent construction milestones. The terminal is a part of AVL Forward, a $400 million project that will bring two new concourses and five extra gates to AVL.

AVL’s new north terminal is set to open summer 2025 as the first of three phases in the project. A recent update from the airport stated that contractors have completed installation of steel framing and concrete slab decking, marking significant progress in the extensive construction project.

Other recent construction updates include progress on the new ticket lobby and temporary checkpoint. Underground utilities and foundations for the areas are also underway.

Next on the construction agenda is erection of steel framing for the ticket lobby and temporary checkpoint. Expansion of the south baggage claim is slated to begin in May.

Three phases of the AVL Forward project

Phase one – Construction of the new north concourse, which will house seven gates and six boarding bridges, gate hold rooms, restrooms and concession areas. It also includes expansion of the ticket lobby, a temporary TSA checkpoint and south baggage claim expansion. Contractors are on schedule for a summer 2025 opening of the new terminal.

Phase two – Planned to follow the opening of the new north concourse, phase two will involve demolition of the existing south concourse followed by roughly 18-24 months of construction on the new south concourse.

Phase three – “Back of house” construction, demolition and clean-up will continue for roughly another year following the completion of the new south concourse.

The new south concourse will add another five terminals to the airport for the first time in 15 years, a crucial addition with record numbers of passengers flying from AVL. Though the new north concourse will still have seven gates, spokesperson Tina Kinsey said it will be an entirely new experience for travelers.

“It will feel so different than anything anyone has experienced at the airport before,” Kinsey said. “When you drive past you can't miss it. The new north concourse is very large compared to what we have always had at the airport, so it will be spacious.”

Visit the dedicated microsite at flyavl.com/AVL_forward for more information on the AVL Forward project.

Parking at AVL

“We are moving into the busy summer season, and so every opportunity we get, we do want to remind the community about some of the enhancements that are in place to make their travel planning easier,” Kinsey said.

Among the enhancements Kinsey listed was an addition to AVL's main webpage that provides information on capacity of various parking areas. Kinsey said this allows for a smoother experience when searching for airport parking, as travelers can plan according to amounts of available parking spaces at any given time.

Another significant update to AVL parking is a parking guidance system made up of green and red overhead lights in garages to indicate where free spaces are located. Signs at garage entrances also indicate the number of spaces available on each level.

Other updates

Along with updates on the AVL Forward project, the airport recently released information on a TSA PreCheck registration opportunity and the seasonal return of budget airline Sun Country.

TSA PreCheck enrollment event – TSA PreCheck registration will be available by appointment at the IdentiGO mobile enrollment truck April 15-18. The enrollment event will be located in the Cell Phone Lot with hours from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-5 p.m.

Sun Country's seasonal service to MSP – Low-fare airline Sun Country has returned to AVL for the season. The airline offers nonstop service to Minneapolis/ St. Paul (MSP) twice weekly during spring through fall.

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This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville Airport announces milestones in construction of new terminal