Nashville International Airport unveiled plans for a billion-dollar expansion over the weekend, releasing a promotional video. The vision includes an on-site hotel, an entirely new entrance called the “Grand Ole Lobby,” and an international arrivals building meant to set the stage for non-stop flights to Europe, Asia and Latin America.
International flights have been a recent
priority of tourism officials. The new terminal is supposed to be one of the first expansion phases, with estimated completion in 2018. The new lobby and hotel would be finished within five to seven years.
The plans also involve relocation of Donelson Pike, pushing the road that currently cuts through the airfield slightly to the east.
Airport executives say they’re just trying to plan ahead for the growth of Nashville, which has already resulted in
record passenger numbers of 12 million travelers annually.
“We are experiencing this rapid growth firsthand as we set new air passenger records every week, month and year,” CEO Rob Wigington says. “The projects comprising our ‘BNA Vision’ are designed to meet the demands of this growth.”
To pay for the expansion, airport officials say they plan to use passenger fees along with state and federal grants, but no local tax dollars.
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