BNA’s Concourse A is tripling in size and will bring new amenities
- Jake Nicholas
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Nashville International Airport (BNA) has officially entered a bold new chapter in its 12-year overhaul, launching the New Horizon program following the completion of the Concourse D extension—marking a watershed moment in the airport’s ongoing evolution. BNA’s growth has been remarkable, with passenger volumes setting records for four consecutive years and reaching 24.8 million travelers in the 2024–25 fiscal year—far surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Building on the success of BNA Vision, which wrapped in February 2024, New Horizon represents the airport’s ambitious next phase, with an estimated $3 billion price tag and a projected full completion by 2029. Combined, BNA Vision and New Horizon bring the total investment in the airport’s transformation to an extraordinary $4.5 billion since 2017.
The first major milestone under New Horizon came on July 8, 2025, when BNA unveiled its newly expanded Concourse D. This project added five gates, increasing the concourse total from six to eleven, and introduced more than 161,000 square feet of new space. Passengers are now welcomed by a moving walkway—the first in the airport’s history—a vibrant “record node” rotunda with panoramic windows, and an outdoor terrace with sweeping views of the ramp and downtown Nashville. The expansion also includes eight new shops, restaurants, and cafés, as well as three original art installations.
The most significant project now underway is the complete reconstruction of Concourse A, scheduled to open on July 11, 2028. The $855 million effort will demolish the existing concourse and replace it with a facility nearly three times its current size, featuring 16 gates and adding 374,000 square feet of terminal space.
Plans call for two baggage claim devices, two 120-foot moving walkways, 24 ticket counters, 28,000 square feet of concessions, expanded restrooms, a mother’s room, a service animal relief area, a departures-level terrace, and 20,000 square feet of mezzanine airline lounges with both indoor balcony and outdoor terrace seating. The project also includes expanded ticketing and baggage claim areas on the north side of the terminal, ultimately increasing BNA’s gate total from 54 to 70, and enabling the airport to accommodate up to 40 million passengers per year.
Other New Horizon projects already in progress include the Central Ramp Expansion, slated for completion by September 30, 2027. The airport is also upgrading its baggage handling system, with completion planned for 2028, introducing automated flight-level sorting, faster security checks, and enhanced luggage handling designed to meet the demands of BNA’s projected growth. Terminal Access Roadway Improvements (TARI) are scheduled through 2029, expanding roadway lanes to two for arrivals and two for departures, improving parking and rental car facilities, and creating a consolidated employee and valet staging lot.
BNA is also installing electrochromic glass that automatically adjusts its tint to reduce heat gain in summer and maximize sunlight in winter, reusing rock excavated from roadway construction to minimize transportation emissions, and implementing a geothermal lake plate cooling system in a converted quarry that cuts energy usage by 50% while providing irrigation water. The Parking & Transportation Center features a Park Assist® guidance system, electric vehicle charging stations, and LED lighting to further improve efficiency.
The New Horizon program is designed to keep pace with this momentum, future-proofing the airport for decades to come.
