Airport Experience® News - Food & Beverage Issue 2025

LATEST BUZZ

BLUE RIDGE BEACON AVL’s New Terminal To Bring Local Feel, Products

BY SARAH BELING

hose passing through Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) can now enjoy a state-of-the-art facility. The

call for the demolition of the airport’s legacy terminal, construction of a new Air Traffic Control tower and a new South Concourse with five gates, baggage claim facilities, administrative offices, front curb canopy and rental car check-in center by mid-2028. The impetus for overhauling AVL’s facilities stemmed from its continuous passenger growth, says airport president and CEO Lew Bleiweis. AVL, which has seen as many as 2.25 million annual passengers in 2023 (2024 was on track to exceed 2023’s numbers but was curtailed by September 2024’s devastating Hurricane Helene, says Bleiweis) expects to exceed their record breaking year by fall 2025.

Above: Asheville Regional Airport is building a new terminal. The first phase, consisting of a new North Concourse, new ticket lobby and TSA screening checkpoint, opens this summer.

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Western North Carolina airport opened a new terminal in late June, part of its comprehensive AVLForward project. The $400 million undertaking – funded by government bonds, federal and state grants (entitlement and discretionary) as well as airport operating funds from passengers using airport services, airlines, rental car companies, advertisers and other tenants of the airport – broke ground in 2023. The new terminal features a brand-new ticket lobby, new North Concourse and TSA screening checkpoint, both opening this summer. Further plans

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AX NEWS JULY/AUGUST 2025