New terminal opens at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

The new terminal at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport officially opens Wednesday, Jan. 15. Called Concourse A, the addition is the first stop on the right for drivers as they approach the airport, before the ticket counters.

Its opening represents a “major milestone” in the airport’s history, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport President and CEO Rick Piccolo said at a Tuesday ribbon-cutting for the new terminal, which he said was an "over $100 million project."

Five gates comprise Concourse A, all leased by Allegiant Air. In addition to providing additional gates and security checkpoints, the new terminal features familiar establishments for travelers to patronize. Anna Maria Oyster Bar, Peet’s Coffee and Patricks 1481 are among the amenities available for those who have passed through security.

Photo by Elizabeth King

The new terminal is located on the first floor of the airport, which allowed construction to take place more rapidly and affordably than if it had been elevated, Piccolo previously told sister publication YourObserver.com. Travelers will board planes outside using passenger boarding bridges.

Magnum Builders and DeAngelis Diamond constructed the terminal after being selected 18 months ago, according to Vice Chair of the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority Board Jesse Biter, who said the project was completed “on time and within budget.”

The new terminal is intended to add capacity to the rapidly growing airport, which has 13 gates in the existing Concourse B.

In recent years, passenger traffic has surged, particularly with the addition of airlines serving the airport and since the pandemic-era spike in travel. SRQ served 4.32 million passengers in 2023, up 266.1% from 1.18 million passengers in 2017. At that time, the airport had six airlines with nonstop service to 12 destinations. Now the airport has 11 airlines offering nonstop service to 67 destinations. 

Allegiant had more passengers in December 2024 than any other airline at SRQ, Piccolo said.

The Las Vegas-based airline, which came to SRQ in 2018, is expanding its offerings following the opening of the new terminal. Allegiant will add seven nonstop flights out of SRQ in February, with an eighth flight to follow in April. 

“SRQ has become an important part of Allegiant’s network,” said Michael Broderick, senior vice president of airport affairs for Allegiant, at the ribbon-cutting for Concourse A. He notes the airline made Sarasota one of its bases in 2019. “That decision has paid off tremendously.”

In fact, with the opening of the new terminal and "for the first time in the history of Allegiant," Piccolo said, the airline wrapped one of its planes to say "Sarasota" on one side and "Bradenton" on the other, in a move to promote the communities through support from Visit Sarasota and Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Photo by Andrew Warfield

The leader of the airport said the plan is to continue growing.

“With the opening of this new terminal, we expect continued passenger and destination growth,” Piccolo said. Previously, he told sister publication YourObserver.com that SRQ will look to add more gates through a walkway connecting the two terminals.

"Allegiant's expanded facilities … mean more destinations, more economic aid, more jobs in our community," Piccolo said at the ribbon-cutting. The new terminal is a "valuable infrastructure investment that will pay dividends to the entire community for decades to come."