Steel Rises on Gulf Shores Airport’s $15 Million Terminal Expansion, Still on Track for May 2027 Opening

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The steel skeleton of a new passenger terminal is now standing at Gulf Shores International Airport, and city officials say the roughly $15 million expansion remains on schedule for a grand opening in May 2027.

The City of Gulf Shores shared the construction update in a social media post, reporting that structural steel for the brand-new terminal is in place. Once the new building and renovations to the existing terminal are finished, the airport will be able to handle two flight operations at the same time, a change the city says will improve both capacity and the overall passenger experience.

The city wrote that it is excited to share an update on the progress at Gulf Shores International Airport, adding that construction remains on schedule for a May 2027 grand opening.

What travelers can expect

According to the city, the expanded terminal will include a long list of improvements designed for an airport that has grown quickly since commercial service began:

• More gate space to support increased passenger traffic, including an outdoor patio
• A larger baggage claim area for improved convenience
• Expanded rental car facilities
• Additional parking capacity
• More curbside drop-off lanes and expanded passenger loading areas
• Expanded food and beverage amenities

The new terminal will feature two gates, with the ability to expand to four in the future.

From one flight at a time to nearly triple the throughput

Airport Director Jesse Fosnaugh has explained that the current terminal’s gate area can only handle a single flight at a time, a limit that becomes more noticeable as the airport adds destinations and passengers.

Fosnaugh said that currently they are operating with a gate area that can handle only one flight at a time, so having two gates will allow for two aircraft on the ground at the same time with a third aircraft capable within an hour of one of the two leaving.

Fosnaugh said that this equates to nearly three times the throughput of the current terminal, depending on flight activity and passenger load factor.

Fosnaugh has also cautioned that travelers should expect some operational challenges while construction continues. He said the end goal is to serve customers better while keeping the small-community feel that has become part of the airport’s appeal.

Rapid growth since Allegiant arrived

The expansion comes as Gulf Shores International Airport continues to see strong demand. Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air began commercial service at the airport in May 2025.

During its first 12 months of commercial service, the airport recorded 104,000 enplanements, a figure that counts passengers departing on Allegiant flights.

More than 34,000 passengers traveled through the airport in June, the highest monthly total since service began. That month, flights to the airport’s 13 destinations operated with an average load factor of 78%, meaning roughly three of every four seats were filled.

Those numbers help explain why airport leaders moved to expand the terminal so soon after the initial facility opened. The airport’s first terminal was built about two years ago with the help of $5 million from the same federal infrastructure program that is now supporting the expansion.

How the project is being paid for

Trip Tek Construction LLC is overseeing the project. The expansion received a $2 million Federal Aviation Administration Airport Terminal Program grant, funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Fosnaugh has said the expansion is being financed through a $20 million line of credit while the airport works to secure additional money from local partners.

He said previously that they are working to secure additional contributions from stakeholders as the project advances. He added that the ultimate goal will be to secure long-term financing once the project is completed and all contributions and actual construction costs materialize.

Key numbers

• About $15 million: Estimated cost of the terminal expansion
• May 2027: Targeted grand opening
• 2 gates: Planned at opening, expandable to 4
• Nearly 3 times: Projected increase in throughput compared with the current terminal
• $2 million: FAA Airport Terminal Program grant for the expansion
• $20 million: Line of credit financing the work
• 104,000: Enplanements in the first 12 months of commercial service
• 34,000+: Passengers in June, a monthly record
• 13: Nonstop destinations served in June
• 78%: Average load factor in June

Summer 2027 flight schedule coming soon

The city said the flight schedule for summer 2027 is expected to be announced this November, news that should give travelers and local tourism businesses an early look at where they will be able to fly once the new terminal opens.

The city said in its update that the flight schedule for next summer 2027 is anticipated to be announced this November, bringing even more exciting news for travelers and the community.

Why it matters for Baldwin County

For residents of Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley and the rest of south Baldwin County, the airport offers a closer alternative to larger regional airports. For the area’s tourism economy, it provides another way for visitors to reach the beaches.

The ability to handle two aircraft at once should reduce bottlenecks during busy travel periods, while the larger baggage claim, added parking and expanded curbside lanes are aimed at easing the crowding that can come with full flights.

Travelers using the airport over the coming months should allow extra time and watch for any construction-related changes to parking, drop-off areas or terminal access. The city and airport typically share updates on their official websites and social media pages.

South Alabama News will continue to follow the project as it moves toward its planned May 2027 opening and will report on the summer 2027 flight schedule once it is announced.