ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is planning a new parking garage and terminal renovations as officials work to accommodate a growing number of passengers.
Airport officials said the parking garage is expected to add 1,700 parking spaces. The garage phase is expected to be completed by spring 2028.
The terminal renovations will include more signage, charging stations and new furniture, said Michele Routh, the airport’s public relations director.
The terminal design phase is expected to begin in early fall.
“We have had just tremendous growth here at the airport,” Routh said. “I mean, in a 10-year period up to 2024, almost 200 percent increase in passengers.”
The airport saw a record-breaking number of passengers last year, with nearly 2.8 million travelers, officials said. Routh said the airport is finding ways to accommodate everyone as travel demand grows.
Passengers Melissa Beaudoin and her son, Justin, were visiting from Kansas City and said this was their second time at the airport. Their previous visit was in 2022.
“There’s a lot more people,” Melissa Beaudoin said. “We did notice that getting off the plane.”
Beaudoin said one of the airport’s strengths has been how easy it is to navigate.
“Coming off and coming in, and the baggage claim was easy to find, restrooms were easy to find,” she said.
Justin says these new additions will be a big help to passengers like himself.
“Definitely very close quarters, so a parking garage would come in handy, I think,” he said.
Melissa Beaudoin said she has seen how airport renovations can improve the travel experience, citing changes at Kansas City International Airport.
“They renovated KCI, we’ve gone through that for the last 5 to 10 years, and just having that extra room there, I can see how that would benefit here too, especially St. Pete,” she said.
Airport officials said they look forward to seeing passenger numbers continue to grow.