The largest capital project in the history of Memphis International Airport (MEM) got officially underway Thursday.
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) board of commissioners approved the $653 million, multi-year modernization of the main terminal building in its monthly meeting. The dollar figure is an early estimate and will likely increase, airport officials said.
The funds will come from airport revenue bonds, grants from the state and federal government, passenger facility charges, and other airport funds. No Memphis or Shelby County tax dollars will fund the project.
The project got underway Thursday, as the board approved a construction contract to demolish Concourse A. The space was built in 1974 and has not been used since 2022, when the modernized B Concourse was opened. Once Concourse A has been demolished, the space may be used for a new rental car facility, office space for the MSCAA, and a new checked baggage inspection system.
The biggest piece of the project will be the modernization of the Terminal B arrival and departure areas. It will feature:
• Expanded open space in the baggage and ticketing areas, with improved passenger flow.
• Larger security screening checkpoint
• Relocation of escalators and stairs to the front of the terminal building
• Preservation of the original architectural design
• New in-line checked baggage inspection system for the Transportation Safety Agency
• Seismic upgrades
This part of the project is expected to get underway in 2026 and be complete in 2030.
In October, crews will begin work on creating a new commercial ground transportation lane on the baggage claim level of the short-term parking garage. Once completed, ground transportation services such as taxis, shuttles, limos, and ride share services (like Lyft and Uber) will be relocated to this new lane. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Once the commercial lane project is completed, the outer commercial drive on the ticketing and departures level will be closed for demolition and reconstruction. The outer drive replacement is expected to begin in 2025 and is expected to take about two years to complete. The project will result in a seismically enhanced, expanded departures-level drive. This phase of the project is necessary to facilitate the subsequent expansion of the terminal building by allowing the terminal to move outward into the existing inner-curb lane.
“MEM is definitely on the move,” said Terry Blue, MSCAA president and CEO. “More than two years ago, MEM reinvented the Memphis travel experience by introducing our modernized concourse. Now, we carry that momentum forward as we embark on our largest project ever, one that is designed to enhance our travelers’ experience and support our airport’s long-term growth.”
