Nashville International Airport is getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday rush.
While the airport isn’t expecting the break any records this week, about 2 million people traveled through BNA during November last year.
The airport authority and airline staff strongly recommend that travelers build in extra time for their plans.
“Plan accordingly. You never know what’s going to happen. You don’t know what traffic’s going to be like on your way to the airport,” said Shannon Gillum, the General Manager of Ground Operations for Southwest at BNA. (Southwest is the largest carrier in Nashville.)
“Ensure that you’re at the airport two hours or more prior to your departure time. And the less stress that you can take on yourself by ensuring that you’re properly prepared, the smoother your travel is going to be,” Gillum added.
Ongoing Expansion
The airport has been in a state of constant change for a number of years.
This Spring, BNA finished $1.4 billion of improvements as part of the first phase of a major expansion. Construction took seven years and yielded expanded parking options including two parking garages, a renovated lobby, a centralized 24-lane security check point, a satellite terminal, new International Arrivals Facility, and on-site hotel.
BNA now accommodates 18 airlines– with Iceland Air and Aer Lingus coming this spring.
Work has begun on the second phase of the expansion which will involve expanding roads around the airport, adding gates, and rebuilding Concourse A. It is expected to be completed in 2028.
The airport is attempting to meet the demands of the increasing numbers of travelers who are flying in and out of Nashville. During BNA’s last fiscal year which ended in June, nearly 24 million travelers moved through the airports doors, a more than 18% increase from the previous year. BNA is anticipating ongoing growth.
Travelers will continue to have to navigate construction in the airport and Nashville drivers keep encountering significant congestion. The airport, city and state are working together on a plan to expand the Donelson Pile Interchange to help ease traffic flows. The project is set to be completed by next September. The airport authority, working with TDOT, offered a $6 million incentive to the main construction company, Superior Construction Company Southeast, to finish by May.
Extra Security Options
If a traveler needs extra assistance through security, Mark Howell, a regional spokesperson for TSA, recommends calling and asking to be part of the TSA Cares program.
“TSA doesn’t want anybody to be scared to travel because of security screening. We want people to be comfortable and we want to be able to tailor a screening for that person that’s going through security,” Howell said.
Through the program, a specially trained TSA staff member will meet passengers and help them through security. TSA can accommodate a wide range of needs including passengers with mobility restrictions, traveling with medical devices, or who have behavioral considerations.
You can also now get past security without a ticket through the BNA PASSport program,
“You complete an application online. Do it at least two days in advance for approval,” said BNA’s Stacey Nickens. “You receive your approval. You come to the airport [and] you can just plane watch or wait for family members.”
Traveler Entertainment
Immediately on the other side of security, passengers will find a new marketplace, with a number of restaurants and shops that sit in front of large windows that look out on the runway.
Passengers can also find a variety of live performer throughout the terminals. Arts at the Airport Program, which started in 1988, currently rotates through about 100 musicians who perform a variety of genres including country, bluegrass, gospel, jazz and pop.
Jessica Tardif and her 14 month-old daughter Lilly recently found a seat at Tooties in Terminal C when she heard a live performer.
Katherine Ceicys/ WPLN News Cole Bradley frequently plays at the BNA Tootsie in Terminal C.
“We heard the music and I realized she’s going need some lunch, so we stopped. She’s been sitting here doing her best dance moves the whole time. So, this has been fantastic. It makes it a lot easier on mom to eat, for sure,” she said
Oscencio and Karen Tom, a couple, sat down to pass some time on a layover from New York to Arizona.
“We’ve actually been to Broadway. We’ve been to Tootsies. And we’re always appreciative of people pouring their heart and soul into performing like this. So, we’re suckers for live music,” Tom said.
Cole Bradley has been performing at the BNA Tootsies for more than 2.5 years. If another act drops out, he will stay on and play for over 8 hours. He especially likes the BNA gig.
“ I love the exposure. I love that I can play whatever then also the interaction with the crowd. And I have digital tips. I got a whole nine yards. I’m a high-tech redneck up here,” Bradley said.
Larysa Jaye has been performing at BNA for about seven years.
Larysa Jay plays a few different spots at BNA. She started when a friend who was managing a restaurant in a terminal suggested she consider the playing for an airport crowd.
“It’s kind of like touring without ever leaving my city. So I get to come here, it’s International Airport, people are flying anywhere and everywhere, I make a lot of friends, some followers, and I get to try out new songs on new audiences every other hour. So, it works out really good,” she said.
Passengers on the move
Katherine Ceicys / WPLN News Michelle Lindsey (left) and her mother-in-law Penny Lindsey recently came to Nashville for a visit.
While BNA’s live music will surely capture the attention of some of the extra travelers this holiday season, others will be eager to be on their way to their gate.
Ema Tolic, was ready to head home to Germany after visiting with the host family she stayed with on an exchange in high school.
“I usually bring whiskey, that’s just a natural thing, I guess, Tennessee whiskey. And those little moon pies. Yes, I think that’s a really Tennessean thing that I bring back home,” she said.
Down in baggage claim, Michelle Lindsay gathered her belongings. She lives in Hawaii and came to Nashville with her mother-in-law on a family trip. She was looking forward to some new sights.
“I love music, so I’m kind of excited to see like different things within Nashville, like the Grand Ole Opry, some of the music homes, so it should be fun. And I’m looking forward to seeing deer. Just seeing it in person would be pretty cool. We do not have deer in Honolulu,” Lindsay said.
Slice of life
On a recent weekday morning ahead of Thanksgiving, travelers were moving through security very quickly.
Lisa Halverson, who now calls Nashville home, recently used TSA Pre-Check and it took her less than five minutes to get through security.
“I love this airport. Being from California, it’s refreshing. It’s a little from different LAX. It’s much quicker than what I’ve been used to in California, so I appreciate that. And kindness. People are kind,” she said.
Meanwhile, Carrie Mayers was flying home with her daughter to San Diego. They went through standard security – and it only took them a few minutes as well.
“The guy, the TSA guy actually took four IDs at once. Super efficient. Fast. It was great,” she said.
Travelers do not need to update their identification to get through security just yet, but starting in May 2025, TSA will require a Real ID or passport.
You can learn more about what’s new at BNA on a recent This Is Nashville episode.
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