NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new terminal is coming to Nashville International Airport.

BNA officials announced plans Monday to build a second terminal. The airport's announcement was made in a video featuring recording artist and actor Trace Adkins and Metro Nashville Airport Authority CEO Doug Kreulen. Since 2017, BNA has been in the middle of a $4.5 billion renovation project that will allow it to handle 40 million passengers in the future. That project is expected to wrap up in 2029, but the airport is already eyeing its next expansion.

In the last fiscal year, more than 24.7 million passengers traveled through the airport — a record-breaking number. Now, the airport is preparing to see even more travelers coming in and out of Nashville with a new terminal.

The airport plans to clear a 300-acre site on the south side of the property, extending near the existing air traffic control tower to build Terminal Two, next to Terminal One. Officials said the location will allow crews to design from the ground up, adding new garages and five modern concourses without interrupting current flights or passenger flow.

However, Metro Councilmember for District 13 Russ Bradford told News 2 that he had been trying for two years to get the airport to include surrounding community members in the discussion with little success. 

"The community out here — they are the ones most impacted, whether it's the airport growing and taking their property or it is them trying to get home and they can't get home because of the traffic on the roads," Bradford said. "Some people say the airport serves the entire city, but my community is the one that feels the most impact."

Bradford expressed concern about whether the current traffic infrastructure can handle even more construction.

"There is already an issue with traffic due to the construction," Bradford said. "So what plans will be put in place to make sure we're not in for another long stretch of traffic issues?"

Meanwhile, a frequent flyer and Nashville resident commented on BNA's Facebook announcement that he would like to see BNA get a plane train to connect Terminals One and Two and told News 2 he was eager for more details.

"[I want to know] what airlines they're working with or if they have any destinations in mind," Nashville resident Kevin Arnold asked. "Also, I was seeing people in the comment section talking about wanting to build different clubs, whether it is an AmEx [American Express] or a Capital One Lounge or airline-specific lounges."

"It would be cool to see expansion on more international routes," Arnold added. "I know a lot of people in the comment section want to see more Asia routes like Tokyo and Seoul, and obviously more expansion for nonstop into Europe."

The opening date for the new terminal has not yet been announced, but airport officials said the development timeline will continue through 2038.

BNA did not respond to News 2's request for an interview.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/bna-second-terminal-announcement/