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Meet The New Terminal

Click the descriptions to see the future — take a virtual tour of the area. 

The airport design is modern, spacious, bright with thoughtful design touches reflective of our area’s natural beauty.  The design includes elements like river-inspired flooring patterns and waterfall-influenced ceilings, and a “living wall” in the new baggage claim.

2019-2023
Shooting for the Stars

Shooting for the Stars

3+ year design project resulted in a plan for a new, modern airport for western North Carolina. Read More

The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority began a complex and exciting design process in 2019.  In partnership with Gresham Smith, the architectural firm chosen to create the new design, airport stakeholders and thousands of community members were engaged to hone a guiding aesthetic for our region’s airport of the future.  This “north star” was followed throughout the years of design:  to create a modern gateway, humbly rooted in timeless natural beauty.

May 2023
Plane Icon

Numbers are in – 1Q23 was the busiest January - March in history!

Spring 2023

Mission Control

New central energy plant underway

May 2023

Prepping for Launch

Temporary gate areas opened

August 2023
Terminal groundbreaking

Time to launch!

A historic groundbreaking event was hosted at the airport on August 11, 2023, marking the beginning of the biggest infrastructure project in AVL’s history. Read More

This ceremony kicked off the three-phase construction project that will result in a new airport terminal that will be the vital next step in better serving the western North Carolina community’s travel needs. “The groundbreaking ceremony included airport stakeholders, community leaders, and local, regional, and national elected officials, who witnessed the end of an era and the beginning of the future when a corner of the 62-year old airport terminal was torn down. This historic occasion celebrated the visionary efforts and collaboration that have paved the way for the transformative AVL Forward project, highlighting the vision of past and current leaders. The expansive project is a result of a $400 million investment, supported by a combination of funding sources including federal and state grants, airport revenue bonds, and airport operating revenue.”

November 2023
demolition

North concourse demolition is complete!

Demolition of the north concourse is complete, and Hensel Phelps, AVL’s construction management company, is hard at work building a new north concourse from the ground-up.  Read More

This portion of the AVL Forward project will take about 18 months to complete. Placement of structural steel is anticipated to begin in early 2024. 

November 2023

More parking!

The new 600 space shuttle lot, located south of the airport (across the street from the WNC Ag Center) opened in time for holiday travel. Airport shuttles continuously service the lot.

November 2023

Contractor Reaches 100,000 Man Hours

Hensel Phelps, our construction firm, documented 100,000 man-hours worked.

January 2024
vertical steel

First piece of vertical steel for the new airport terminal was set

The first piece of vertical steel was set at the site for the new North Concourse.

January 2024
Plane

For the first time in history, more than 2 million passengers utilized AVL in 2023!

January 2024
Demolition

Demolition began on the old north ticketing and admin area

Demolition began the week of January 19 on the old north ticketing and admin area. The two-story structure is being demolished to make way for the new north concourse! Vertical steel is being erected adjacent to the demolition area. 

February 2024
Construction

The first section of curbside canopy on the north end of the terminal was demolished.

February 2024

A milestone moment for the air traffic control tower

A massive concrete pour for the base of the tower was completed.

March 2024
North Concourse decking

Vertical steel and concrete decking complete

The vertical steel installation and concrete decking for the new North Concourse was completed. 

May 2024

New operating changes implemented

The rental car check-in counters moved to temporary modular buildings. Also, a new outside queuing space for the ticket lobby was created.

June 2024

The north end of Shuttle Lot South is complete!

A connecting road to Terminal Drive was added and the ground transportation pickup area was relocated from the Parking Garage to the north end of Shuttle Lot South.

September 2024
North Concourse

Work continues on the North Concourse

The building is quickly progressing and interior finish work is set to begin in November! Read More

Framing for the large glass windows is taking place and glass installation will begin mid-September. Northern stairwell installations are expected to be completed in September, and progress is taking place on the plumbing, mechanical and electrical work that needs to be ready for the building dry-in by November.

December 2024

Air Traffic Control Tower Cab Raised

The tower cab (the area where the air traffic controllers work) was raised into place on top of the tower!

Spring 2025
Cone

Interior finishes are taking place in the north concourse as the opening approaches.

Latest News

6-9-2025 // 4:35pm

New Ticket Counters to Open June 11 at Asheville Regional Airport

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is proud to announce the next major milestone in its historic AVLForward project: the opening of the new ticket counter lobby inside the new North Concourse on June 11, 2025.


Beginning that day, all passengers will check bags and obtain boarding passes at the new ticket counters in the newly opened ticket lobby. Passengers will then proceed to the Legacy Terminal for TSA security screening and boarding. New signage and AVL staff will assist passengers on their journey through this new space.


On June 25, AVL will open the full new North Concourse, which will include a new TSA Security Checkpoint, new concessions, new amenities and boarding gates. Several of the boarding gates will be operational starting June 25 and all will be operational by the end of July. More information about the full new North Concourse will be shared soon.


DOWNLOAD PHOTOS OF NEW TICKET COUNTERS
 

2-6-2025 // 8:00am

The numbers are in: Asheville Regional Airport posts a second year of historic growth

Asheville Regional Airport celebrated its second consecutive year surpassing 2 million passengers, with 2,174,125 travelers in 2024, despite a 3% dip following storm-related disruptions. The airport continues to solidify its role as the region’s gateway, driven by increased airline services, new nonstop destinations, and strong support from local residents. Construction on the new concourse, set to open in 2025, remains on schedule, reflecting the airport’s commitment to meeting the demands of its growing passenger base and delivering world-class service. AVL has a $3.9 billion economic impact on the region and support for 22,745 jobs in western North Carolina.

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) announces two years of two million passengers. The airport served 2,174,125 passengers in 2024, the second highest number in the airport’s history. This huge year of passenger utilization comes after the stunning 22.2% increase in 2023, that yielded the first-ever year of serving more than 2 million annual passengers.  Year over year, Asheville Regional Airport had only a modest decrease from its previous record-setting year.

The 3% decrease in passengers comes in the months immediately after the impacts of Helene. “We knew the storm could affect passenger numbers,” said Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO, “To surpass the 2 million passenger mark for two years in a row is a testament to our community. AVL continues to be an important gateway to and from western North Carolina.”

The first three quarters of 2024 maintained and surpassed projections based on 2023’s passenger data and demonstrated the popularity of the region as a nationally recognized travel destination. Local residents maintained the trend of flying from their preferred regional airport, and the airlines increased their services, adding frequency, replacing smaller planes with larger jets to accommodate more passengers, and announcing new nonstop destinations. This included addition of nonstop flights to Orlando International Airport (MCO).  Bleiweis focused on the positives of 2024, “We want to extend our gratitude to our airline partners for continuing to believe in our region as a premier destination and to our residents for choosing to fly local and using AVL as their airport.”

Construction on AVL Forward, specifically Phase One of the project which includes the new north concourse slated to open in summer of 2025, has continued uninterrupted. “Our region’s travelers have been patient, and we are looking forward to this summer’s unveiling of the new north concourse,” said Bleiweis, “Over two million passengers, two years in a row, demonstrates how much this region needs an airport than can provide world-class service in a larger space, designed to accommodate our historic growth.”

Earlier in the month the North Carolina Division of Aviation released its biennial economic impact report titled The State of Aviation. The report highlights the economic impacts of North Carolina's airports, including jobs, income, and spending generated by on-airport operations, capital projects, and services. 

Asheville Regional Airport supports 22,745 jobs, over $1 billion in personal income for the region, and $3.9 billion in economic impact for western North Carolina.

These numbers highlight the contributions of leisure and business travelers, airport tenants, and general aviation activities, such as jobs supported by airport-dependent businesses and visitor spending. This comprehensive assessment underscores the vital role AVL plays in the region's economy.

The third-busiest commercial service airport in North Carolina, AVL is served by five airline partners:  Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, and United, who offer nonstop service to 27 unique airport destinations throughout the country.  To learn more, visit www.flyavl.com.  To learn more about the airport’s construction project that will result in a new airport passenger terminal, visit www.flyavl.com/avlforward.  

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7-26-2024 // 9:31am

TSA adds fourth security screening lane at AVL

(Asheville, N.C.) Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) has experienced historic growth with over 2.2 million passengers in 2023. This summer the airport has experienced two record-breaking days with over 6,400 passengers screened in one day.

To meet passenger demand, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began the installation of a fourth security screening lane on Monday, July 22, 2024, and it is now fully operational.

“Our TSA officers are looking forward to working in the new space where they will have a larger area to carry out their important security duties,” said TSA North Carolina spokesperson, Dan Velez.

During AVL’s routine busiest days, TSA is screening more than 5,800 people a day. The fourth line will alleviate wait times during peak travel hours.

“This couldn’t come at a better time,” said Lew Bleiweis, President and CEO of Asheville Regional Airport. “The growth is real at AVL, and we’ve exceeded our record passenger numbers from 2023 every month this year so far. Our security lines were at capacity. TSA has seen our growth and responded to ensure our passengers can move through screening more quickly.”

The new lane will feature a Computed Tomography (CT) X-Ray machine. The CT X-ray provides TSA officers the ability to rotate the X-ray image on-screen for a thorough visual image analysis. By getting a better view of the contents of the bag, the TSA officer can resolve potential security threats on-screen, ultimately reducing the number of bag checks that are required. As an added passenger convenience, with the use of these new CT units, travelers may now leave their laptops and other electronic devices in their carry-on bags along with their small 3-1-1 liquids.

All passengers should plan ahead and pack properly to prevent delays during the screening process. The TSA has a list of prohibited items on their website at https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

The third-busiest commercial service airport in North Carolina, AVL is served by six airline partners: Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Sun Country and United, who offer nonstop service to 27 unique airport destinations throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.flyavl.com. To learn more about the airport’s construction project that will result in a new airport passenger terminal, visit www.flyavl.com/avlforward.  

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Photos

Check out our photo gallery!

The Expedition Team

Visionaries.  Imagineers.  Dreamers.  Designers.  Planners.  Builders.

Questions
Why build a new terminal?
What is the construction timeline?
Why are all flights ground boarding now? Will boarding bridges come back?
What are some of the coolest things to look forward to?
Will more airlines and routes come to AVL when the project is complete?
How is this major project funded?
Is more parking being added?
What is the passenger experience like right now in the airport?
Answers

One word:  growth. 

The airport has seen remarkable growth for the past seven years and has been one of the fastest-growing airports in the country for most of those years.  AVL is the gateway to and from western North Carolina, a place more and more people call home or want to visit.  We are literally bursting at the seams.  It’s time for more space, for now and for the future.

Blast off to a 3.5-year journey

We officially broke ground in August 2023, and we are projecting to complete the project within 3.5 years (with final touches still underway after we open).  This is a phased project, so you will enjoy much of the new terminal much sooner, with a new north concourse projected to open in 2025.  Check out our interactive timeline for more details.

Travel is about adventure, right?

We know that it feels like a blast from the past to walk outside on the tarmac, brave the elements, and make your way to a set of air stairs to board your plane.  Rest assured, outside "ground boarding" is only necessary during our first two years of construction.  We don’t have room right now for boarding bridges – we need every inch of ramp space possible for the aircraft.  Boarding bridges will be back as soon as we open the north concourse in 2025.  Thanks for bearing with us and tapping into your adventurous spirit!

We're over-the-moon about what's coming.

Here are a few examples:

  • A lovely, airy food, beverage and retail plaza with room to orbit and lots of local options available (stay tuned – more to come about this!).

  • We can't wait to install our living wall!  It’s a way to bring our beautiful outdoors indoors.

  • The bathroom situation is stellar:  bright, comfortable restrooms with changing tables for babies as well as appropriate space for aging or differently-abled travel companions, inclusive options and ... yes ... even an indoor pet relief area for traveling animals.

  • Dedicated rooms where infants can be fed or nursing mothers can pump will be located near the gate areas.  

  • And ART!  We’ll have multiple mini-galleries in the airport where local art displays will rotate.  And for the first time in our history, we will commission large-scale art pieces for display in key locations.  We are WNC, after all.  Art is a huge part of our sense of place.

  • There’s so much more – we’ll add to this list as more details become available.

Our mission:  ready for the future

This project is about meeting our space needs now and making sure we’ve planned for potential growth in the future.  While we can’t predict exactly what will happen, we do believe that growth will continue in our region and at AVL.  And we will be ready.

Mission Control - financing the biggest project in AVL's history

This major $400 million project is being funded by government bonds, federal and state grants (entitlement and discretionary), and airport operating funds.  Our operating funds come from users of the airport:  airlines, rental car companies, other tenants of the airport, advertisers, and passengers (when they pay to utilize airport services, such as parking).

*Note:  no tax dollars are used to fund airport capital projects or operations.

A separate mission:  Project Parking

AVL Forward is solely about building a new terminal.  However, we have our eye on parking, as well.  Simultaneously in the first year of this project, we will be building an additional remote shuttle lot south of the airport (across from the WNC Ag Center).  And our master plan calls for a focus on a second parking garage, when the time is right.  Stay tuned.

It's a space adventure!

Good news!  We are operating in similar square footage that we’ve always had - just in different locations.  We still have our large, grand gate area to the south, with two-story ceilings and windows and comfortable seating available for passengers.  We have added temporary gate space adjacent to this south gate, which houses three boarding areas, restrooms and a bar.     

And for a while (until the new north concourse opens in 2025), you will be walking outside to get on and off aircraft.  Just part of the adventure, right?

We’ll pamper you from time to time, surprising you with pop-up events with goodies and smiles.  We promise to keep you informed and give you ways to communicate with us if you have ideas about how we can make this process more comfortable for you.

Thanks for your patience and keep cheering for AVL.  We’re your airport, and in just a few short years, it’ll be an out-of-this-world passenger experience every day.

#AVLForward

Let’s get social!  Check out recent pics, events, and more.

Welcome! The new ticket lobby is ready for you. #flyAVL #AVLForward
The new ticket lobby is open and it's gorgeous, efficient and ready for you! 🤩 Thank you to our amazing community for your patience as we continue to build the future AVL!

We are so proud to upgrade your check-in process with a beautiful new ticketing lobby. Starting today, you may enter the new terminal for airline check-in and baggage drop.

For the next 2 weeks passengers will still be flying out of our legacy terminal. The new north concourse opens on June 25th! #FlyAVL #AVLForward #WNCGateway
This delicate dance is preparing the way for passengers to board their plane in style via brand-new jet bridges on the north concourse. #flyavl #avlforward #avlforwardfriday
👨‍🚀💫 This AVL Space Explorer has landed… right on the new front curb at the terminal! The future is coming in hot — fresh, sleek and smoother than a moonwalk. 🌕🛸 Hold on tight, because we’re propelling #AVLForward at warp speed! 🚀✨ #AVLForwardFriday
✈️ The future AVL is bright, spacious and modern with more space for you! 🪐🔭✨💫 These renderings of the new ticket lobby give a little sample of where we’re headed this summer. #avlforwardfriday #avlforward #flyavl

What Our Passengers Are Saying

"I’m looking forward to our new airport terminal and love flying my hometown Asheville Regional Airport." -Eliana O. 

"We love AVL and are excited for the much needed renovations and upgrades! Can't wait to see the 'new' AVL!!" -Eric M. 

"I absolutely love flying in and out of the Asheville Airport and do so multiple times a year! I can't wait to see the new terminal when finished! AVL Forward!" -Dawn L. 

"Fly AVL every other week and enjoy the growth and progress." -Ricardo C. 

"Great job, looking forward to the the bigger and better service AVL will provide while still keeping that small personal feeling." -Maureen W. 

"Love flying through this airport. So easy and can’t wait for the new terminal!" -Ryan W. 

"My wife and I love flying out of AVL. We can’t wait to see all this great work finished!" -Michael G.

"Looking forward to seeing all the new changes at my home airport!" -Bonnie G. 

 "Love this airport. I fly in and out at least once a month." -John D. 

Send Us a Signal

We want to hear from you.  Let us know your compliments, ideas for improvements, questions or concerns.  And thank you for flying from AVL!

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