St. Pete airport selects firm to lead $105M terminal project

The St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is moving forward on its $106 million terminal expansion project. 

During an April 5 meeting, the airport’s selection committee tapped New York-based aviation consultant group C&S Companies to spearhead the massive project, which entails building a new passenger boarding level on the second floor and adding more aircraft parking spaces. Currently, the airport has ground-level boarding. 

The committee selected the consultant firm after hearing presentations from three other vying groups: Michael Baker International Inc., RS&H Inc. and Atkins North America Inc.

The committee’s selection must be approved by the Board of Pinellas County Commissioners, an airport spokeswoman said.

A rendering of the terminal expansion. 

C&S Companies has experience working with international and executive airports on master planning strategies and infrastructure improvements. 

The initial contract with C&S Companies is estimated to be north of $90 million, according to an airport spokeswoman. 

As part of the five-phase plan, PIE will reconfigure certain spaces in the airport to become more efficient. For instance, the airport will reconfigure the current concession area as it does not serve customers post-security. PIE will also reconfigure the two-checkpoint design into a single large checkpoint for two terminals.  

Phases one through three are geared toward consolidating the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) checkpoints, expanding the holding rooms, adding more concession space and vendors, and building a new level for passenger boarding.  

Phases four and five call for a new pier concept, which is a narrow building for aircraft that would extend to the north and bring additional gates.  

The airport is poised to receive numerous local and federal grant dollars to fund the reconfiguration and terminal expansion. 

The entire project is expected to be completed by 2029. 

Airport executives said the expansion is critical to meet the growing number of flights and passenger activity. 

Today, the airport has 63 non-stop routes, which are primarily provided by Allegiant Air.