MEMPHIS, Tenn. (August 16, 2018) – The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) Board of Commissioners has approved the selection of Flintco, LLC as the primary contractor for Memphis International Airport’s (MEM’s) B Concourse modernization construction and redesign project. The total of the contract is $122,582,530. The board also approved a $32,000,038 contract with Aero Bridgeworks for new jet bridges that will be a part of the modernization project.

The contractor selections will allow construction to begin in September. The project is expected to be completed in early 2021. The multi-year, multi-phase plan will involve the modernization of the spine and east leg of MEM’s B Concourse as well as consolidation of all airline, retail, and food & beverage businesses into the remodeled concourse. The redesign will include the addition of wider corridors, moving walkways, larger boarding areas, higher ceilings and increased natural lighting. Additional amenities and concessions options will also be added. The project will also feature much-needed seismic upgrades to the B Concourse. The airlines and food and retail tenants are operating out of the A and C Concourses while the B Concourse is closed for construction.

MEM’s previous operational layout was ideal for hub operations. However, Delta Air Lines’ removal of its hub operations created a dynamic in which passengers, airlines, and retail and food businesses were spread out across three concourses. In addition, the nearly 50-year-old building was not built to modern seismic standards. Should the airport continue its passenger growth trends, additional gates will be available to accommodate more air service.  

The new jet bridge contract is the result of the airport’s decision to purchase all-new passenger boarding bridges rather than refurbishing existing ones.

“This is a huge milestone as the reinvention of MEM becomes a reality,” said Scott Brockman, MSCAA President and CEO. “The end result will be a revolutionary new travel experience for Memphis passengers.”

Passengers can learn more about the modernization project at www.flymemphis.com/modernization or take a virtual tour at https://goo.gl/mFdLLk.

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Project Highlights

B Concourse features:

• · Higher ceilings
• · Increased natural light
• · Wider corridors and larger gate areas
• · Additional seating
• · Additional moving walkways
• · Additional amenities such as additional charging stations in gate areas
• · Children’s play area
• · Designed to modern seismic standards
• · Stage for live music in the Rotunda area
• · Additional lounge areas

B Concourse construction details:

• · The stem and southeast leg of the B Concourse will be completely modernized.
• · The southwest leg will only be utilized for international arriving flights and will not be redesigned during the first phase of modernization.
• · There will be 23 gates available to airlines once the modernization of the B Concourse is completed. These 23 gates can accommodate about 3 million enplanements, about 50% more traffic than MEM currently has.
• · Continued long-term growth at MEM could facilitate another modernization phase for the west leg of the B Concourse. This section contains about 15 more gates that could increase capacity for nearly 5.5 million annual enplanements.

Budget details

• · The modernization project and associated enabling projects are expected to cost approximately $245 million.
• · No local tax dollars will be used to fund the modernization project –the airport does not receive any local tax revenue.
• · Project funding will include general airport revenue bonds, state and federal grants, passenger facility charges (PFCs) and other Authority capital funds.

After new B Concourse opens:

• · Airlines will relocate to the B Concourse.
• · The new B Concourse will feature new and enhanced retail and food options.
• · Ticketing/check-in will continue in the A, B and C Terminals.
• · Baggage claim for all airlines will be consolidated into the B baggage claim area, though the A and C baggage claim areas will remain open for passenger entrance and exit.
• · Security screening is not anticipated to change and will primarily be consolidated to B, although a second security checkpoint at C will also be available for periods of heavy traffic