A major concourse expansion at Bradley International Airport is expected to open soon, adding three new gates — the centerpiece of $250 million in construction projects framed as positioning Connecticut’s largest commercial airport for future growth, airport officials say.
The expansion of Terminal A is part of a two-level, 80,000-square-foot structure tucked behind the Sheraton Hotel. The project got underway in 2023 and was partially funded by $120 million in federal transportation grants, including from the federal infrastructure legislation. The balance will be paid for from airport revenue and passenger facility charges, up to $4.50 per passenger boarding an aircraft.
“All these projects position Bradley for future growth and will better serve our growing passenger base,” Michael W. Shea, executive director of the Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Bradley’s operations, said recently. “We are extremely proud to showcase them to our passengers, local community and Connecticut visitors.”
The concourse expansion includes two new storefronts with nearly 2,500-square feet of space for a store and a dining establishment, both as-yet unannounced. Seating for waiting passengers have more convenient charging stations. New modern restrooms were built with privacy stalls that include more room for luggage.
The construction projects follow a $210 million ground transportation center that opened in 2022. The center consolidated car rental businesses a structure that is connected to the airport’s terminal, allowing for easier pick-up and drop-off. The center added 850 spaces for much-needed parking.
The airport is now planning to use the 13-acre swath of land that once accommodated rentals cars for a massive parking expansion to add another 2,000 spaces. Planning is now underway for that that project to relieve a looming parking crunch amid route expansion.
The concourse expansion at Bradley comes as the airport served 6.66 million arriving and departing passengers in 2025, according to the CAA. That is 1.3% shy of the most recent peak of 6.75 million in 2019, prior to plunge in travel during the pandemic. In 2020, in the teeth of Covid, arriving and departing passengers fell to 2.36 million.
The number of passengers in 2025 was essentially flat, compared with 2024, the CAA reported.
In recent remarks at a ribbon-cutting for the concourse expansion, Gov. Ned Lamont hailed to construction, noting that the airport was integral to the state’s future.
“A strong transportation system that includes an easily accessible robust airport is key to a state’s economic success and its ability to strengthen businesses and grow jobs,” Lamont said. He also praised the state’s Congressional delegation for securing crucial federal grants.
The imminent opening of the new concourse follows the recent debut of two new exit corridors added to the east and west sides of the main terminal. The two new exits, the airport says, provide more direct access to baggage claim, car rentals, ground transportation and shuttles. The exits were designed with “meet-and-greet” area, with seating and arrival monitors.
The old center exit stairwell is permanently closed and reconfigured to expand the security checkpoint area adding more screening lanes and passenger queuing space,
Under the concourse is a new, $185 million baggage checking and screening system — a significant portion of the $250 million project.
The system — already in use at most airports in the country — removes baggage screening from the lobby, opening up space for potential future airline ticket counters.
At Bradley, when a passenger checks baggage at a ticket counter, a one-mile conveyer belt carries the bags to the new screening area. The system eliminates the step of passengers having to wait in the lobby area for bags to be run through explosive detection machines that have now been removed.
The new system first came into use in the fall. Bradley said it checks an estimated two million bags a year.
“The opening of Bradley International Airport’s (new) baggage screening facility, and now the new concourse space serves as a capstone for the recent customer service enhancements we have unveiled since last summer,” Shea said.
Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at [email protected].