| History | | | | color-coded Blue and Red. Airlines are assigned a color |
| Tampa Bay was the birthplace of commercial airline | | | | depending on their location within the Landside |
| service, when pioneer aviator Tony Jannus flew the | | | | Terminal Building. The airlines found in the south side |
| inaugural flight of the St Petersburg-Tampa Airboat | | | | of the terminal are color-coded blue. The carriers |
| Line on January 1, 1914, from St. Petersburg, Florida, | | | | located in the north side are color coded red. The |
| to Tampa using a Benoist Flying Boat the first | | | | codes were also assigned names to assist color-blind |
| scheduled commercial airline flight in the world using a | | | | patrons. The Blue side names are Neil Armstrong and |
| heavier-than-air airplane. | | | | Amelia Earhart. The Red side names are Igor |
| Drew Field | | | | Sikorsky and Chuck Yeager. The Long Term Parking |
| Postcard from Drew Field | | | | Garage also uses the special color coding system. |
| In 1928 the city completed the 160-acre (0.65 km2) | | | | The four elevator cores have names and colors to |
| Drew Field six miles (10 km) west of Downtown | | | | make it easier for customers to remember where |
| Tampa. The more popular Peter O. Knight Airport | | | | they've parked. Wright Brothers - Orange, Tony |
| was opened on Davis Island near Downtown Tampa | | | | Jannus - Purple, Robert Goddard - Green and Charles |
| in 1935, where both Eastern and National Airlines | | | | Lindbergh - Brown. The Economy Parking Garage |
| operated until 1946. | | | | (EPG) is also split into two sections Purple and Gold. |
| The United States Army Air Force took over Drew | | | | The newest phase, opened in time for the 2008 |
| Field during World War II and expanded and | | | | holiday season, will be Green and Orange. The EPG |
| modernized the airport. The airfield was used by | | | | cores have no names at the present. |
| Third Air Force and renamed it Drew Army Airfield. | | | | The Landside Terminal |
| Third Air Force used it as a training center by | | | | The Landside Terminal was designed with |
| 120,000 combat air crews and flew antisubmarine | | | | convenience in mind. Express elevators and escalators |
| patrols from the airfield. There was one accident in | | | | keep passenger traffic moving smoothly, with few |
| 1943 that killed five fliers. Despite this, Drew Field set | | | | bottlenecks. |
| a safety record for the Third Air Force in 1945 after | | | | Level 1 (Baggage Claim) contains all inbound baggage |
| 100,000 flying hours had been completed over a | | | | facilities and baggage belts. The Blue Rental Car |
| period of 10 months without a fatal incident. The | | | | facility was relocated from its crammed Bag Claim |
| aircraft operated included the B-17, C-47, AT-6, B-25, | | | | location, to a consolidated facility beneath the long |
| and others. | | | | term parking garage in 2002. On November 15, 2006 |
| Tampa International Airport | | | | a new Red Rental Car facility and garage opened |
| After the hostilities, Eastern and National Airlines | | | | adjacent to the Marriott. In late 2008, renovation of |
| moved to Drew Field. The reason for the relocation | | | | the Baggage Claim began and will continue well into |
| was that the Peter O. Knight Airport was too small | | | | 2009. Improvements include new baggage carousels |
| to handle the new Douglas DC-4, DC-6 and Lockheed | | | | and an inbound baggage screening system. |
| Constellation prop-liners that were being placed into | | | | Level 2 (Ticketing) contains all ticketing/check-in |
| service. During this period the airlines were housed in | | | | functions. The level also contains a Charter desk |
| the former Base Operations Building which was | | | | reserved for flights that do not normally utilize TPA. |
| converted into a terminal. | | | | The Ticketing area received a major renovation |
| Trans Canada Airlines inaugurated international flights | | | | expansion in 2002. |
| in 1950 and Drew Field was renamed Tampa | | | | Shopping/circulation area on the Transfer Level |
| International Airport. The airport's second terminal | | | | Level 3 (Transfer Level) includes the airside shuttle |
| opened in 1952 near the intersection of Columbus | | | | stations and a shopping area known as the Airport |
| Drive and West Shore Blvd. The building, which was | | | | Galleria. The airport Marriott Hotel is adjacent to the |
| built for three airlines, was soon swamped. The Civil | | | | main terminal. Tampa's facilities are almost entirely |
| Aeronautics Board granted Capital, Delta, Northeast, | | | | housed in the public access main terminal. The |
| Northwest and Trans World Airlines authority to fly | | | | facilities are mostly operated and run by three airport |
| to Tampa during the late 1950s and as a result | | | | retail companies - HMS Host, Stellar Partners, Bay |
| created havoc at the undersized terminal. An annex | | | | Area Concessions and OSI Restaurant Partners. |
| was built east of the terminal to accommodate the | | | | There are two food courts on level 3, operating on |
| new carriers. | | | | opposite sides of the building. The Galleria also |
| Jet-powered operations began in 1959 when Eastern | | | | features TGI Friday's, the first airport Carrabba's, |
| Air Lines introduced the Lockheed L-188 Electra. The | | | | diverse shopping attractions, such as a Ron Jon Surf |
| following year National Airlines began turbojet service | | | | Shop, Brookstone and Harley-Davidson. There is also |
| with the Douglas DC-8 jetliner. Flights to Mexico City | | | | an outdoor smoking/observation patio located where |
| began in 1961 with weekly service by Pan American. | | | | the Airside B shuttle bay once stood. |
| Congestion became a serious problem at the 1952 | | | | Level 3 has undergone numerous major renovations. |
| Terminal when the airlines began to replace their | | | | The main building was renovated in 1997. Shuttle bay |
| piston powered equipment with larger jetliners. As a | | | | expansions were constructed in 1986 for Airside F, |
| temporary measure the terminal was once again | | | | 1994 for Airside A, 2001 for Airside E, and 2004 for |
| expanded to handle the growth in traffic. | | | | Airside C. Future expansion plans include a relocation |
| The 1971 Terminal | | | | of the shuttle bay for Airside E by 2012, and, if the |
| During the early 1960s, the aviation authority began | | | | plans for a light rail system in the Tampa Bay area |
| making plans to build a replacement terminal in an | | | | come to fruition, a light rail station could be |
| undeveloped site at the airport. Airport leaders chose | | | | constructed at the current Observation Deck location. |
| the Landside/Airside design in 1965 after a careful | | | | The airport also has plans on building a north terminal |
| study of different types of terminals. | | | | complex in addition to the existing complex by 2020. |
| Construction on the new terminal began in 1968 | | | | Service building |
| between the airport's parallel jet-capable runways. | | | | When the airport opened its doors in 1971, the |
| When completed in 1971 the new jetport was highly | | | | Service Building went into operation as well. It housed |
| praised by the press. Prior to its official April 15 | | | | the very first Communications Center, Police dispatch, |
| opening, 60,000 people toured the new facility during | | | | employee cafeteria and maintenance locker rooms. |
| a two day open house event. National Airlines Flight | | | | The building is located across from the Red Baggage |
| 36 from LAX was the first to arrive at the terminal. | | | | and Ticketing levels. It was primarily intended to |
| After touching down at 05:26 am the jet taxied to | | | | house mechanical equipment such as the chiller plant |
| Airside E to disembark its passengers. | | | | and electrical transformers. Since then it has been |
| The people mover system (Airside E, right) | | | | expanded to two levels which was in the original |
| The airport's people mover system was the first | | | | design in 1968. Today it houses the original facilities |
| such system in the world. The original eight trains | | | | with the addition of offices, rental car counters, |
| were built by Westinghouse. | | | | badging and a receptionist desk. The Police |
| The 227-foot (69 m) tall ATC control tower became | | | | department/Lost & Found has a lobby on level |
| operational on July 15, 1972 and at the time was the | | | | two (ticketing level) for walk-in lost & found |
| tallest in the United States (at 227 feet). The Host | | | | requests. |
| Marriott Airport Hotel with its revolving rooftop | | | | Parking facilities |
| restaurant got plenty of attention when it opened its | | | | Currently, over 20,000 parking spaces are available at |
| doors on December 1973. The building's features | | | | the airport. These spaces are split between the |
| include triple-paned windows and sound-proof guest | | | | Short Term Parking Garage, the Long Term Parking |
| rooms. | | | | Garage, and the Economy Parking Garage. As of right |
| Northwest and National Airlines brought the Jumbo | | | | now, there is an ongoing expansion of the Economy |
| Jet to the airport late in 1971 with the introduction of | | | | Parking Garages which is in its second phase of |
| the Boeing 747 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10. This | | | | construction. Also, the SunPass Plus program, first |
| was followed by the introduction of the Lockheed | | | | introduced at Orlando International Airport, is being |
| Tristar a year later by Eastern Air Lines. National | | | | implemented at TPA in stages. In early 2009, the |
| Airlines began trans Atlantic DC-10 service to | | | | Economy Parking Garages began using the program, |
| Amsterdam and Paris in 1977. In 1991, Airside B | | | | in which customers can use their SunPass |
| closed following the demise of Eastern Airlines. | | | | transponders to pay for parking. The program was |
| During the following decades, the airport was | | | | expanded to the Short & Long-Term garages |
| expanded and improved to handle more traffic and | | | | during the summer of 2009. In addition, TIA also |
| additional airlines. In 1996, Airsides C and D were | | | | provides "self-serve" lanes in which customers can |
| remodeled. The interiors of both satellites were | | | | pay with their credit card instead of waiting in line for |
| refurbished and the original Westinghouse shuttles | | | | the cash lanes. |
| were replaced with Bombardier CX-100 trains. During | | | | Short term parking garage |
| this time, all the airlines from both facilties were | | | | Levels 4-9 of the Landside Terminal Building house |
| housed in Airside E. Upon completion of the | | | | the short term parking garage. The garage was built |
| renovations, the airlines returned to their original | | | | with the airport complex in 1971 for added passenger |
| locations and Airside E was closed for good. The | | | | convenience. Originally three levels, the garage was |
| Landside Terminal was also remodeled numerous | | | | expanded in 1982 to six levels and contains 3,612 |
| times during the 1980s and 1990s. | | | | spaces. |
| Both Delta Air Lines and US Airways opened | | | | Long term parking garage |
| maintenance bases at the airport to service their | | | | Long term parking was originally a large lot sitting on |
| growing fleets. However, both bases closed following | | | | what is today, the present-day long term parking |
| the September 11 terrorist attacks and the airline | | | | garage. The garage was built in several phases from |
| struggles that ensued. Alabama based Pemco World | | | | 1990 to 1997 after increased passenger traffic |
| Air Services currently occupies the former US | | | | swamped the parking lot beyond capacity. A monorail |
| Airways hangar performing MRO (maintenance, repair, | | | | (situated on Level Five of the garage) connects |
| overhaul) services for several airlines. | | | | passengers to and from the short term parking |
| Terminal, airlines and destinations | | | | garage (Level Five) and the Landside Terminal. The |
| Aerial of TPA in 2004 | | | | garage can hold a total of 7,635 spaces on six levels. |
| The Ticketing Level at Tampa International Airport. | | | | Economy parking garage |
| The level received a makeover from 2000 to 2002. | | | | On November 1, 2005 phase I-A of the garage |
| Airside A | | | | opened to the public and then on May 19, 2006 |
| Airside C Interior (2008) | | | | phase I-B opened. The garage is 8,043 spaces large |
| Airside E Interior (2008) | | | | and is divided into two color-coded sections - purple |
| Airside F Interior (2008) | | | | and gold (yellow). There is also a surface lot and |
| Tampa International Airport's Landside/Airside terminal | | | | overflow lot for use during the holidays. A free |
| was the first of its type in the world. There is a | | | | shuttle service takes passengers to the terminal |
| central Landside Terminal where baggage and | | | | drop-off twenty-four hours a day. Construction |
| ticketing functions take place. The Landside Terminal | | | | began in early 2008 on phase II which will be an |
| is surrounded by four Airside satellites where airliner | | | | exact copy of the first phase. |
| embarkment and disembarkment occur. Each Airside | | | | Cell phone waiting lot |
| is connected to the Landside Terminal via an elevated | | | | Cell phone waiting lot flight display |
| automated people mover (APM) system which | | | | In an effort to decrease congestion within the |
| employs 16 Bombardier CX-100 Shuttle Cars. TPA | | | | Landside Terminal, particularly the baggage claim |
| was the first airport in the world to deploy a fully | | | | areas, a cell phone waiting lot was built alongside one |
| automated, driverless people mover system and is | | | | of the remote overflow lots. It includes two large |
| host to Bombardier Transportation's longest-running | | | | four panel flight status boards, showing real-time |
| APM system. The terminal was originally designed to | | | | arrival information. This allows awaiting family |
| limit the walking distance between the automobile | | | | members and friends of arriving passengers to wait |
| and airliner to 700 feet (210 m); today, it has | | | | in their vehicles until the passenger calls. Then the |
| increased to about 1,000 feet (300 m), due mostly | | | | arriving passenger(s) can be picked up curbside at |
| in part to the larger, more modern airside buildings | | | | the Landside Terminal without creating curbside |
| which have replaced the original, smaller structures. | | | | congestion problems. The lot has restrooms, WiFi, |
| The future of the Airport is certain to see continued | | | | recorded CCTV surveillance and around-the-clock |
| growth and success. Many plans have been set in | | | | police patrols. Construction began in early 2008 to |
| motion to expand as the Tampa Bay area continues | | | | expand the cell phone waiting lot and was completed |
| to thrive. | | | | in November of that same year. The lot contains |
| Airsides | | | | approximately 125 striped spaces.[citation needed] |
| Today, there are four active airsides (A, C, E and F) | | | | Monorail |
| with 62 gates. All were constructed after 1985 and all | | | | The monorail was installed in 1991 when the new long |
| airsides include a food court and gift shop, and | | | | term parking garage was built and opened on |
| outdoor smoking patios. Airsides E and F contain duty | | | | December 16. It was the first of its kind in the world |
| free shops in addition to the regular gift shops to | | | | to include six driverless, electrically propelled cars that |
| serve passengers arriving or departing on international | | | | are completely computer controlled. The system was |
| flights. As of 2009, the security screening area in | | | | also the first to have active switches and it is |
| each airside is equipped with one "puffer" explosives | | | | monitored from the airport's communications center. |
| walk-thru detection machine. A brief description of | | | | There are four long term stations. Monorail circles the |
| each airside and the airlines they occupy are listed | | | | long term parking garage and connects to the short |
| below, including the major cities/hubs that each airline | | | | term garage via an elevated bridge to stop at four |
| serves from TPA. | | | | additional stations. Monorail is free to use and runs |
| Airside Aincludes gates 1-12 and 14-18it was opened | | | | twenty-four hours a day except for a once-a-week |
| on March 16, 1995 and was designed by Continental | | | | maintenance shut-down in the overnight hours. |
| Airlines | | | | Bombardier Transportation maintains the system by |
| Airside Cincludes gates 30-45it was the last airside to | | | | contract and the Aviation Authority owns it. |
| be demolished and rebuilt from the ground up; it was | | | | Future Intermodal Center |
| reopened to passengers on April 19, 2005 | | | | Plans are currently in the works for the construction |
| Airside Eincludes gates 62-75it was the first airside to | | | | of an intermodal facility located on airport premises. |
| be demolished and rebuiltthe current fourteen-gate | | | | This would allow passengers to better connect to |
| facility was designed for Delta Air Lines and was | | | | the number of proposed bus routes by both HART |
| dedicated and opened to passengers on October 15, | | | | and PSTA. In addition, a light rail system is being |
| 2002the facility includes one airline lounge: the Delta | | | | planned for the Tampa area, with a link to TPA |
| Air Lines "Sky Club" | | | | Airport from Downtown Tampa and the WestShore |
| Airside Fincludes gates 76-90it was opened on | | | | district . |
| November 4, 1987 and was designed for international | | | | Public art program |
| flightsthe facility includes two airline lounges: the US | | | | The Airport's public art program was established in |
| Airways' Club and the International Club which is used | | | | 1998 to enhance the traveling public's experience and |
| by British Airways passengersthe customs | | | | to bring forth Florida's history and culture. A |
| immigration center is located on level 1 | | | | committee selects the art through a jury process. |
| Airlines and destinations | | | | Permanent exhibits: |
| Airlines | | | | Landside Terminal Level 3 at the observation deck |
| Destinations | | | | includes paintings, sculptures, glass art and mixed |
| Airside | | | | media presentations. Various artists contributed. |
| Air Canada | | | | Airside E boasts a collection of seven WPA (Works |
| Halifax [seasonal], Montral-Trudeau [seasonal], | | | | Projects Administration) murals which were originally |
| Toronto-Pearson | | | | painted in the 1930s and restored for display. These |
| E | | | | originally adorned the Peter O. Knight Airport until |
| AirTran Airways | | | | 1965. Artist is George Snow Hill. |
| Akron/Canton, Asheville [seasonal; begins May 4] | | | | Landside Terminal Level 2 has a collection of copper, |
| Atlanta, Baltimore, Dayton, Flint [seasonal], Grand | | | | nickel, silver and bronze alloy suspended Pelicans and |
| Rapids [begins June 12], Gulfport/Biloxi, Indianapolis, | | | | a mangrove tree sculpture. Original to the airport |
| Milwaukee, Pittsburgh [seasonal], Rochester (NY) | | | | when it opened in 1971 the collection is known as |
| A | | | | "The Meeting Place". The mangrove tree is 15 feet |
| American Airlines | | | | (4.6 m) tall with a flock of 22 life-sized pelicans all in |
| Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New | | | | copper roosting and circling around. Pelicans are also |
| York-JFK, San Juan | | | | "flying" above the escalators. Artist Roy Butler of |
| F | | | | Plantation, FL. |
| British Airways | | | | Landside Terminal Level 2 near the United ticket |
| London-Gatwick | | | | counters is a presentation of 28 Cirkut images (A |
| F | | | | type of Kodak camera). They are 20.8 x 10 feet |
| Cayman Airways | | | | (3.0 m). The photographs depict the unique history |
| Grand Cayman | | | | of social and urban growth of Tampa, FL and the |
| F | | | | west coast. Included are a team photo of the New |
| Continental Airlines | | | | York Yankees (1927) and a 1922 Gasparilla Invasion. |
| Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark | | | | Artist: Brothers Al and Jean Bugert |
| A | | | | Blue Side Baggage Claim includes artwork by Elle |
| Continental Connection operated by Gulfstream | | | | Terry Leonard and Josh Johnson above the marine |
| International Airlines | | | | exhibit. |
| Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Miami, Pensacola, | | | | Airport Chapel level 3 of the Main Terminal has the |
| Tallahassee | | | | first ever commissioned artwork of glass art adorning |
| A | | | | the entryway door and interior. Artist Yvonne Barlog. |
| Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines | | | | Richard J. Frank's watercolor on paper "Off Doolin" |
| Cleveland | | | | hangs in the shopping arcade of the landside Terminal. |
| A | | | | Ticket Level/Red Baggage Claim Tapestries were |
| Delta Air Lines | | | | hand-made by twenty women from Phumalanga, |
| Atlanta, Boston [seasonal], Cincinnati/Northern | | | | Swaziland in Africa. Each is 34 feet (10 m) by |
| Kentucky, Detroit, Hartford/Springfield, Los Angeles, | | | | 8 feet (2.4 m) and depict familiar Florida nature |
| Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK, New | | | | scenes. They serve two purposes. The first is to |
| York-LaGuardia, Salt Lake City [seasonal] | | | | provide eye-pleasing decoration and the second is to |
| E | | | | provide a sound absorption method. |
| Delta Connection operated by Comair | | | | Red Baggage Claim Aquarium tile collage by E. Joseph |
| Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky [seasonal] | | | | McCarty. |
| E | | | | Main Terminal Level 3 "World Traveler" glass vase. |
| Delta Connection operated by Mesaba Airlines | | | | Uses the graal and overlay technique by Duncan |
| Memphis [seasonal] | | | | McClellan. |
| E | | | | The Airport also has a collection of rotating work and |
| Frontier Airlines | | | | exhibits on loan in addition to the permanent |
| Denver, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City [seasonal; ends | | | | collections. They include the exhibit at Airside A |
| April 18] | | | | security screening and the gallery in the arcade to |
| C | | | | the Marriott Hotel. |
| Frontier Airlines operated by Republic Airlines | | | | Airside C includes: (totaling over $1 million) |
| Oklahoma City [seasonal; ends April 18] | | | | Spiraculum, a collection of twenty-six mosaic floor |
| C | | | | medallions at the shuttle lobby by Kristin Jones and |
| JetBlue Airways | | | | Andrew Ginzel. |
| Boston, New York-JFK, Newark, White Plains | | | | Final Boarding Call, an 11 ft (3.4 m) by 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| A | | | | Oil painting on Belgium linen by Christopher Still. It's |
| Midwest Airlines operated by Republic Airlines | | | | located at the TSA checkpoint.q, a 90-foot (27 m) |
| Milwaukee, Omaha [seasonal] | | | | long sculpture of cut-out figures. It depicts travelers |
| C | | | | from different time periods and forms a timeline of |
| Southwest Airlines | | | | advances in airline travel. |
| Albany, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham (AL), Buffalo, | | | | Barnstormer, an eight foot tall silicon bronze statue of |
| Chicago-Midway, Columbus (OH), Denver, Fort | | | | a pioneer pilot. It weighs more than 1,000 pounds and |
| Lauderdale, Hartford/Springfield, Houston-Hobby, | | | | sits atop a 4-foot (1.2 m) high cement pedestal. |
| Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, | | | | Artist: Harrison Covington |
| Long Island/Islip, Louisville, Manchester (NH), | | | | Orange Blossom, an aluminum sculpture by Stephen |
| Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, | | | | Robin. The fragrant flower blooms in the spring and is |
| Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, Raleigh | | | | Florida's state flower. This sculpture is 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Durham, St. Louis, San Antonio, Washington-Dulles, | | | | by 9 ft (2.7 m) by 5 ft (1.5 m) and weighs about |
| West Palm Beach | | | | 1,300 lb (590 kg). |
| C | | | | One Buc Place |
| Spirit Airlines | | | | The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' team headquarters |
| Atlantic City, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale | | | | were adjacent to the airport from their inception in |
| C | | | | the 1976 to 2006, when they moved to a new |
| Sun Country Airlines | | | | facility at the former Tampa Bay Center. It is located |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul [seasonal] | | | | just across the street from their home field, |
| E | | | | Raymond James Stadium, and close to the airport. |
| United Airlines | | | | Accidents and incidents |
| Chicago-O'Hare, Denver, Washington-Dulles | | | | In 1943, five people were killed when their B-26 |
| E | | | | crashed on a flight from Avon Park to Eglin field. The |
| US Airways | | | | pilot attempted an emergency landing at Drew Field |
| Charlotte, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Washington-Reagan | | | | and overshot the runway. Two others on board |
| F | | | | survived. This occurred one hour after an A-24 flying |
| WestJet | | | | out of Drew Field crashed in Mullet Key near St. |
| Ottawa [seasonal], Toronto-Pearson | | | | Petersburg, a bombing range at the time. The pilot |
| F | | | | ditched the plane and lived but the gunner bailed out |
| Original airsides | | | | and drowned. |
| The original TPA airsides were designed in the mid | | | | On June 27, 2009, US Airways flight 1241 underwent |
| 1960s as four identical facilities. The concept was | | | | a rough landing causing the front tire to blow. |
| later scrapped for unknown reasons and the facilities | | | | Subsequently the blown tire caused the landing gear |
| were eventually built around the requirements of their | | | | to collapse. None of the passengers or crew on |
| then primary tenant airlines. Thus creating the four | | | | board reported any injuries. However, television |
| dissimilar facilities that stood from their opening in | | | | pitchman Billy Mays was on this flight and was hit on |
| 1971 to 2000. Each airside building was three stories | | | | the head, possibly by falling luggage out of the |
| tall and included a minimum of ten gates, a cocktail | | | | overhead compartments, during the rough landing; he |
| lounge, snack bar, and gift shop. Each airside was | | | | was found dead the following morning. No evidence |
| maintained by the airline for which it was built until | | | | of interior or exterior head trauma was discovered |
| 1999. All of the facilities (except Airside B) were | | | | during the autopsy. |
| renovated in the early/mid 1990s but received no | | | | See also |
| further modifications during their life span. All 4 of the | | | | List of airports in the Tampa Bay area |
| original airside buildings have been demolished and | | | | Florida World War II Army Airfields |
| either re-built or the space re-used as noted below. | | | | References |
| Below is a brief description of the four original airsides | | | | ^ a b |
| and the airlines that occupied them throughout the | | | | ^ a b c d FAA Airport Master Record for |
| years. The bolded airlines indicate the primary | | | | TPA (Form 5010 PDF), effective 2009-05-07. |
| (anchor) tenants for each facility. | | | | ^ |
| Airside B - former Gates 19-30 (1971-1991) | | | | ^ |
| Airside B was a twelve-gate facility that was | | | | ^ Brown, Warren J. (1994). Florida's Aviation History. |
| designed by Eastern Airlines and was the first original | | | | Largo, Florida: Aero-Medical Consultants. p. 56. ISBN |
| airside to shut down. The closure was the direct | | | | 0-912522-70-4. |
| result of Eastern's cessation of operations in 1991. | | | | ^ a b Dead Listed in Drew Field Crash St. Petersburg |
| There were preliminary plans to renovate and revive | | | | Times, Mar 11, 1943 |
| the airside during the early 1990s, but efforts failed | | | | ^ Drew Field Sets Safety Record Saint Petersburg |
| and planning for Airside A commenced immediately in | | | | Times, Sept 30, 1945 |
| 1992. The airside was not rebuilt due to a lack of | | | | ^ |
| overnight parking for aircraft, the facility's close | | | | xa |
| proximity to one of TPA's runways, and the need for | | | | ^ Tampa International Airport, History |
| a separate automated baggage sorting facility for | | | | ^ |
| Airside A (since Airside A could not accommodate a | | | | ^ |
| built-in facility due to its pre-2001 construction), and | | | | ^ |
| was eventually demolished in 2003. | | | | ^ St. Petersburg Times, A New Day for Parking. |
| Today an overnight aircraft hardstand and an | | | | ^ Tampa International Airport, Economy Garage - |
| automated baggage sorting facility for Airside A sit | | | | Phase II opens ahead of schedule! |
| on the former site. The site could also one day house | | | | ^ Bay News 9, Bay Area Briefs. |
| an intermodal center that would allow passengers to | | | | ^ Aviation Week, |
| connect to various mass transit options, including | | | | ^ HARTline 2008 Community Report |
| Tampa's proposed light rail system. | | | | ^ Transitway Planning, Tampa International Airport |
| Airside C - Gates 31-41 | | | | ^ Five Are Killed As Bombers Crash The Evening |
| Airside C was an eleven-gate facility designed by | | | | Independent, Mar 10, 1943 |
| Delta Air Lines. The facility originally housed a | | | | ^ |
| customs/immigration center for arriving Air Canada | | | | ^ |
| and Pan Am international flights. The center was | | | | Other sources |
| closed in 1987 and a Delta Crown Room was added. | | | | TPA Airport Master Plan Requires Acrobat Reader 7 |
| The airside was renovated (and its shuttles replaced) | | | | or higher. |
| in 1996 but never received any further modification. | | | | External links |
| By the late 1990s, Delta's presence in Airside C was | | | | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tampa |
| dramatically increasing, and so was the congestion | | | | International Airport |
| and lack of gate space. The airline soon requested | | | | Tampa International Airport, official site |
| HCAA to build a new facility for them. Airside E was | | | | Juan's Tampa International Airport Fan-Page |
| deemed inactive by 1997 and its future quickly went | | | | Drew Field Echoes, military newspaper for 19421945 |
| up in the air. In 1998, it was decided that Airside E be | | | | when the airport was a military air field |
| demolished and rebuilt for Delta. After a brief halt in | | | | FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective 11 Feb 2010 |
| construction due to the September 11, 2001 terrorist | | | | FAA Terminal Procedures for TPA, effective 11 Feb |
| attacks, the new Airside E opened in 2002 and Delta | | | | 2010 |
| immediately moved in. After much debate by the | | | | Resources for this airport: |
| HCAA about whether to demolish or renovate the | | | | AirNav airport information for KTPA |
| aging facility, Airside C was then slated for demolition | | | | ASN accident history for TPA |
| and replacement in 2003. | | | | FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker |
| Airside D - former Gates 46-55 (1971-2005) | | | | NOAA/NWS latest weather observations |
| Airside D was the last of the original airsides to close. | | | | SkyVector aeronautical chart for KTPA |
| The facility was designed by Northwest Airlines and | | | | FAA current TPA delay informationv d e |
| was originally without some jet-ways until | | | | USAAF Third Air Force in World War II |
| government airline regulation ended in 1978. The | | | | Airfields |
| airside was renovated in 1996 (and its original shuttles | | | | Alabama Arkansas Florida Georgia Louisiana |
| were replaced). Northwest moved to Airside A in | | | | Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina |
| 1999 and United moved to the rebuilt Airside E in | | | | Tennessee |
| 2002. Airside D closed in May 2005 and its remaining | | | | Units |
| tenants (AirTran, JetBlue, and Spirit) were relocated | | | | Commands |
| to Airsides A and C. The facility was demolished in | | | | II Air Support Command III Air Support Command |
| May 2007 and the site is currently used as hard-stand | | | | III Bomber Command III Fighter Command III |
| aircraft parking, but will eventually be used for the | | | | Reconnaissance Command III Tactical Air Command |
| Control Tower and Ground Radar relocation in | | | | Divisions |
| preparation for the New North Terminal facility. An | | | | III Tactical Air Division |
| 8-10 Gate replacement facility may be built down the | | | | Wings |
| road depending on capacity needs, but is not likely | | | | 8th Fighter Wing 9th Fighter Wing 40th |
| until 2020 or beyond. | | | | Bombardment Wing |
| Airside E - Gates 61-70 | | | | Groups |
| The original Airside E was designed by National Airlines | | | | Air Commando |
| and boasted a slightly different layout from the other | | | | 2d Air Commando 3d Air Commando |
| airsides. Its boarding gates were on the third level (as | | | | Bombardment |
| opposed to the second level in the other airsides). | | | | 3d Bombardment 12th Bombardment 17th |
| This was due to the fact that the facility was | | | | Bombardment 21st Bombardment 29th |
| designed specifically for the DC-10. The first level was | | | | Bombardment 30th Bombardment Group 38th |
| open to allow tugs to drive right through. This was | | | | Bombardment 44th Bombardment 46th |
| due to the airsides close proximity to the taxiway. | | | | Bombardment 47th Bombardment 85th |
| Airside E occupied National until its demise and | | | | Bombardment 88th Bombardment 90th |
| takeover by Pan Am. Pan Am, in turn, occupied the | | | | Bombardment 91st Bombardment 92d |
| facility until its own demise. Thereafter, the facility | | | | Bombardment 93d Bombardment 94th |
| was renovated (in 1991) and Continental became its | | | | Bombardment 95th Bombardment 97th |
| final major tenant. The facility was closed in 1995 | | | | Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th |
| after Continental's new terminal (Airside A) opened. | | | | Bombardment 100th Bombardment 309th |
| The airside was demolished in 2000 and replaced by | | | | Bombardment 310th Bombardment 312th |
| its current facility. | | | | Bombardment 319th Bombardment 320th |
| TPA Airport Today | | | | Bombardment 321st Bombardment 322d |
| The airport control tower as seen from the parking | | | | Bombardment 323d Bombardment 335th |
| garage. | | | | Bombardment 336th Bombardment 340th |
| Today, TPA Airport handles about 20 million | | | | Bombardment 344th Bombardment 345th |
| passengers per year ) and improvements currently in | | | | Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th |
| progress will increase capacity to 25-million | | | | Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th |
| passengers a year. The airport's car rental market is | | | | Bombardment 396th Bombardment 397th |
| in the top five among all U.S. Airports. And the facility | | | | Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th |
| continues to receive consistent top-ranking reviews | | | | Bombardment 411th Bombardment 416th |
| from numerous publications. A 2007 Zagat Survey | | | | Bombardment 417th Bombardment 418th |
| ranked TPA the "Best Overall U.S. Airport" and in | | | | Bombardment 451st Bombardment 454th |
| 2008 Cond Nast Traveler recognized TPA as the | | | | Bombardment 463d Bombardment 483d |
| second-best airport in the world, just two-tenths of | | | | Bombardment 488th Bombardment |
| a point behind the first place winner. JD Power and | | | | Fighter |
| Associates have also given TPA Airport consistently | | | | 20th Fighter 31st Fighter 49th Fighter 50th |
| high customer satisfaction ratings over the years. | | | | Fighter 53d Fighter 54th Fighter 56th Fighter |
| Presently, the largest aircraft serving TPA is the | | | | 59th Fighter 79th Fighter 80th Fighter 81st |
| Boeing 777. | | | | Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 311th Fighter |
| At this time, new runway is being planned (17-35) to | | | | 332d Fighter 337th Fighter 338th Fighter 339th |
| increase capacity in fair-weather conditions. In | | | | Fighter 361st Fighter 369th Fighter 372d |
| addition, a second Landside Airside Terminal will be | | | | Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 408th |
| built to the north of the current facility, allowing the | | | | Fighter 414th Fighter 506th Fighter |
| airport to serve over 50-million passengers a year by | | | | Fighter-Bomber |
| 2025. Construction of this facility was originally slated | | | | 27th Fighter-Bomber 48th Fighter-Bomber 86th |
| to begin in 2010, with completion set to October | | | | Fighter-Bomber 406th Fighter-Bomber 407th |
| 2015. However, the St. Petersburg Times reported on | | | | Fighter-Bomber |
| November 7, 2008 that the airport authority is no | | | | Reconnaissance |
| longer pursuing the original planned dates due to the | | | | 2d Reconnaissance 9th Reconnaissance 10th |
| current state of the US and global economies. The | | | | Reconnaissance 26th Reconnaissance 65th |
| current struggle of the airline industry, including the | | | | Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 68th |
| recent merger by Delta and Northwest, has forced | | | | Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance 70th |
| passenger levels to level off, and slowly decline at | | | | Reconnaissance 75th Reconnaissance 77th |
| the airport. Additionally, with more possible airline | | | | Reconnaissance 423d Reconnaissance 424th |
| mergers on the way, TPA Airport may not require | | | | Reconnaissance 426th Reconnaissance |
| drastic expansion for another five to six years. The | | | | United States Army Air Forces |
| revised start date of construction of the north | | | | First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth |
| terminal is now estimated at around 2015. According | | | | Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh |
| to the Tampa Tribune, passenger levels dropped by | | | | Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth |
| 14% in January 2009 | | | | Twentiethv d e |
| The Marriott located adjacent of the parking garage. | | | | Major airports of the United States |
| Phase I of the economy parking garage was | | | | Atlanta (Hartsfieldackson Atlanta International Airport |
| completed in November 2005. Phase II of the | | | | - ATL) Baltimore (Baltimore/Washington |
| economy garage opened ahead of schedule in | | | | International Thurgood Marshall Airport - BWI) |
| November 2005, bringing a total of 5,600 parking | | | | Boston (Logan International Airport - BOS) |
| spaces. | | | | Charlotte (Charlotte/Douglas International Airport - |
| Tampa International Airport covers an area of 3,300 | | | | CLT) Chicago (Chicago Midway International Airport |
| acres (1,335 ha) at an elevation of 26 feet (8 m) | | | | - MDW) Chicago (O'Hare International Airport - |
| above mean sea level. It has three runways: 9/27 is | | | | ORD) Cincinnati (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky |
| 6,999 by 150 feet (2,133 x 46 m) with an asphalt | | | | International Airport - CVG) Dallas-Fort Worth |
| concrete surface; 18L/36R is 8,300 by 150 feet | | | | (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport - DFW) |
| (2,530 x 46 m) with an asphalt/concrete surface; 18R | | | | Denver (Denver International Airport - DEN) Detroit |
| 36L is 11,002 by 150 feet (3,353 x 46 m) with an | | | | (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport - DTW) |
| concrete surface. | | | | Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale Hollywood |
| For the 12-month period ending May 30, 2008, the | | | | International Airport - FLL) Honolulu (Honolulu |
| airport had 279,183 aircraft operations, an average of | | | | International Airport - HNL) Houston (George Bush |
| 764 per day: 85% scheduled commercial, 14% | | | | Intercontinental Airport - IAH) Las Vegas |
| general aviation and <1% military. At that time | | | | (McCarran International Airport - LAS) Los Angeles |
| there were 90 aircraft based at this airport: 66% jet, | | | | (Los Angeles International Airport - LAX) Miami |
| 19% single-engine, 3% multi-engine and 12% | | | | (Miami International Airport - MIA) Minneapolis Saint |
| helicopter. | | | | Paul (Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport - |
| Airport Amenities | | | | MSP) Newark (Newark Liberty International Airport |
| Airport conveniences that are free of charge include | | | | - EWR) New York (John F. Kennedy International |
| passenger paging, wireless internet access, cell phone | | | | Airport - JFK) New York (LaGuardia Airport - LGA) |
| waiting lot with flight information, free first hour | | | | Orlando (Orlando International Airport - MCO) |
| terminal parking, shuttle service from the economy | | | | Philadelphia (Philadelphia International Airport - PHL) |
| garage, real-time flight information and travelers aid | | | | Phoenix (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport - |
| services. Other services include eateries located | | | | PHX) Salt Lake City (Salt Lake City International |
| before passenger checkpoints, touch screen | | | | Airport - SLC) San Diego (San Diego International |
| information kiosks, information about local events and | | | | Airport - SAN) San Francisco (San Francisco |
| outdoor smoking areas. | | | | International Airport - SFO) Seattle |
| The logo | | | | (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport - SEA) |
| The logo represents the blue waters of Tampa Bay | | | | Tampa (Tampa International Airport - TPA) |
| with a jetliner flying into a downtown Tampa sunset. | | | | Washington, D.C. (Ronald Reagan Washington National |
| It is known as the "Spirit of Flight". The jetliner was | | | | Airport - DCA) Washington, D.C. (Washington Dulles |
| modelled after those once used for supersonic | | | | International Airport - IAD)v d e |
| transport -- at the time the logo was created in the | | | | Tampa Bay Area |
| 1970s, it was during an era when it was thought that | | | | Topics |
| supersonic aircraft would replace conventional jets as | | | | Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay |
| a mode of air travel.[citation needed] | | | | Rays Tampa Bay Lightning Tampa International |
| The color-coding system | | | | Airport Ybor City Cigars Hillsborough County |
| Since its opening on April 15, 1971, Tampa | | | | Schools University of South Florida Climate of the |
| International Airport has used a special color-coding | | | | Tampa Bay Area |
| system throughout the terminal complex. The | | | | Central cities |
| Baggage Claim Areas and Ticket Counters are | | | | Tampa St. |