HCAA approves FY2026 budget, including Main Terminal upgrades

The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority's Board of Directors the month approved their Fiscal Year 2026 budget, which includes funding for some big construction projects designed to accommodate continued growth at Tampa International Airport.

The new budget, which covers projected revenue and expenses from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2026, estimates the Airport will see a 3.2 percent increase in passenger traffic versus FY2025, with a total of 25.7 million visitors flying in and out of TPA.

That will result in a projected $7.5 million increase in operating expenses to a total of $212.1 million, and a $12.8 million boost in revenues to $493 million. Overall, the Aviation Authority projects a pre-capital bottom line of $174.6 million.

The Board approved the budget unanimously at their Sept. 4 meeting.

The Authority will move forward with a capital program that includes 34 projects totaling $835.5 million, including some highly visible projects that will improve and modernize key portions or the traveler experience.

The program includes $298.6 million to upgrade TPA's checked baggage system to a modern setup that will serve all Airside terminals with state-of-the-art equipment.

The new design will centralize control of the system and help passengers expedite baggage dropoff with their airlines. The changes will improve efficiency and resiliency, lower overall maintenance needs and optimize the Main Terminal to enable expected growth.

The checked baggage system is currently scheduled to be completed in late 2028.

Also part of the capital program is $285.7 million to expand and renovate the Ticketing Level on the second floor of the Main Terminal.

This modernization includes adding more ticket counter space and moving individual airline offices from their current locations behind each counter to consolidated office space on the West side of the building. Counters will then be pushed back several feet to free up floor space and allow more room for passenger queuing and check-in kiosks.

The Ticketing Level project is currently scheduled to be completed in late 2029.

Both the checked baggage system and Ticketing Level projects are designed to streamline the check-in process and better serve the way guests travel in the 21^st century. The improvements will complement the opening of the new, 16-gate Airside D, which broke ground in December and is scheduled to be completed in late 2028. The $1.5 billion Airside D is being built to help TPA welcome its projected growth to almost 35 million annual passengers by 2037.

The capital budget also includes funding for runway and taxiway rehabilitation and maintenance, new passenger boarding bridges for Airside E and other projects.

About $807.3 million of the total capital program will be funded from either Authority reserves or the issuance of Authority debt.

The FY2026 Budget Book is available here.