Travellers who arrive at Tampa International Airport with a boarding pass in hand and carry-on baggage only will get an express path to their gate in 2022.

The airport recently broke ground on 16 new express curbside lanes dedicated to passengers who don’t need to check luggage or visit the check-in counter.

The $187-million project will double the number of curbsides at the airport, helping to ease congestion caused in part by use of ride-sharing vehicles, airport officials said.

“Tampa International Airport is taking the issue head-on with innovative new express curbsides that will make the airport more efficient by allowing guests to bypass the ticketing level or baggage claim areas via a new vertical circulation building,” according to a press statement.

The 16 new lanes include eight on the Blue side of the airport terminal and eight on the Red side.

“Departing guests will take an escalator or elevator straight to the transfer level, then hop on a shuttle to the [airside terminals],” the statement explained.

“Those without a boarding pass will be able to print one out along the way at conveniently located kiosks. Arriving travellers will be able to quickly access ground transportation without interacting with baggage claim activity.”

The Blue side curbsides are scheduled to be completed in 2022, the Red side in 2024.

The new lanes are part of a master plan that will include a new Central Utility Plant, demolition of the airport’s old administration building, construction of an office building, hotel, and retail space near the car-rental facility, and connection to Tampa Bay’s regional trail system. The final phase of the plan is the construction of a new D terminal building.

tampaairport.com