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Downturn Pushes Back Plans For New TIA Terminal

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By TED JACKOVICS

tjackovics@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

TAMPA - Tampa International Airport's plan for a $950 million North Terminal likely will be delayed from October 2015 until 2018 to 2020 as the poor economy slows air travel projections, airport director Louis Miller said today.

However, some near- and long-term projects, including the opening Nov. 17 of an additional 4,062 remote parking garage spaces and 1,538 more by May, will continue as planned, Miller said.

Completion of the new remote garage adjacent to the existing one will increase overall terminal and remote parking capacity to more than 25,000 spaces.

The additional parking will provide relief for holiday travel. Officials expect heightened demand even though airlines plan to have serving Tampa International with 10.2 percent fewer seats serving Tampa in November and 6 percent fewer in December than the same months in 2007.

"Our business plan is sound, but we continue to take steps to contain costs," Miller said.

Airlines have trimmed flights to save fuel costs, while travel demand also has declined in the face of the bad economy and higher air fares.

Airport traffic declined 2.9 percent to about 18.7 million passengers for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 compared with a year ago. Airport officials originally estimated reaching the 25 million annual passenger capacity in 2015, but now say that figure would not be reached until at least 2018.

Officials can hold off implementing most plans for a new terminal up to 30 months before it is needed.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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