Memphis airport announces opening date for new concourse
After about three years under construction, Memphis International Airport announced it will open its modernized Concourse B on Feb. 15.
The $245 million project was originally slated to be completed in fall 2021 but was delayed due to COVID-19, workforce and supply chain-related issues.
Flights will begin to depart at the new concourse on Feb. 16. According to a news release sent Wednesday, the redesigned concourse will feature the following renovations: h Higher ceilings h Larger gate areas and wider corridors h Moving walkways h Increased natural lighting h New and enhanced restaurant/retail options h Children’s play area h Stage for live music in Rotunda area h Additional lounge areas h Additional charging stations h New air-conditioned jet bridges h All-new art program that includes 61 different artworks representing 62 artists all from or connected to Memphis.
The concourse is designed with a modernized look, upgraded bathrooms and cordless charging. Additionally, two murals, titled “Heartbeat” and “Soul” by artists Jamond Bullock and Erik Okdeh, and works by 7 other artists will be featured at the new concourse. The airport will also feature new vendors, including a PGA shop with a golf simulator. New restaurants will include a Grizzliesthemed eatery and Memphis Made Brewery location.
As it nears completion, work continues on concessions, retail and airline operations space on the ground level.
Concourse B will be the primary one used at the airport.
There will be 23 gates available to airlines, which can accommodate about 6 million passengers. In addition, the west leg of the B Concourse contains about 15 more gates that could increase capacity to nearly 11 million annual passengers.
Logistically, travelers departing the Memphis airport won’t experience many changes, ticketing/check-in will continue in the A, B and C Terminals, and security screening is not anticipated to change and will primarily be consolidated to the B Concourse. Security checkpoint C will be used in case of heavy traffic.
The A and C concourses will be closed for further construction.
“This is an exciting day for MEM, Memphis, and our passengers,” said Michael Keeney, chairman of the Memphis-shelby County Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. “We are truly reinventing the Memphis travel experience, and we can’t wait to welcome our passengers on Feb. 15.”
Astrid Kayembe covers South Memphis, Whitehaven and Westwood. She can be reached at astrid.kayembe@commercialappeal.com, (901) 304-7929 or on Twitter @astridkayembe_.