Delta Air Lines has signed a landmark 20-year agreement with Tampa International Airport to secure a premier position in the airport’s long-anticipated Airside D terminal, slated to open in 2028. Under the deal, the Atlanta-based carrier will utilize at least six gates and operate one of the two new lounge areas in the terminal currently under construction, cementing its status as Tampa’s longest-serving domestic airline.
Approved by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s board on Monday, the contract builds on Delta’s longstanding presence at Tampa International. The airline, which has been flying in and out of Tampa Bay for 65 years, already occupies six gates and maintains a Delta Sky Club on Airside E. Today, Delta travels to 13 destinations with an average of 36 departures per day, and over the past decade, its network of flights has carried almost 33 million domestic passengers and more than 1 million international travelers.
Airside D marks a significant milestone for Tampa International Airport as its fifth terminal and the first built in approximately 20 years. The $1.5 billion, 600,015-square-foot terminal is under construction on the site of the previous terminal demolished in 2007. The planned 16-gate, two-level facility will feature glass boarding bridges, a mezzanine, two lounge areas, an international passenger arrival processing area, shopping and dining options, and a new shuttle system. Airside D is the third—and final—phase of Tampa International’s Master Plan, following earlier projects that included a redevelopment of the main terminal, construction of a rental car center, a central utility plant, the SkyCenter One office building, the SkyConnect Automated People Mover, and roadway expansions.
With its deep roots in the community and robust domestic network, Delta’s new investment underscores its commitment to providing an enhanced travel experience while contributing to the ongoing evolution of Tampa International Airport. As the terminal nears completion, passengers can look forward to modern amenities and improved connectivity, positioning Tampa as a key hub in the region’s air travel landscape.