Momentum Building for Terminal Modernization Development Program
February 29, 2024
Press Releases
CLE Receives Unanimous Support from Signatory Airlines
Cleveland, Ohio – February 29th, 2024 — The airlines serving Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) signaled their support of the City of Cleveland’s Terminal Modernization Development Program (TMDP) by providing unanimous approval on $175 million of initial projects associated with the advanced planning, design and phasing of the multi-year development program.
First announced in 2021 as part of Master Plan efforts looking to modernize and position CLE for the next 30 years, the TMDP emerged to address increasing customer demand and operations on airport facilities. Key elements of the TDMP will include, among other improvements: expanded ticketing and passenger gate areas; consolidated and expanded security checkpoint processing; improvements to the roadway access system; increased public parking capacity; and, enhanced customer experience throughout airport facilities.
“Approval of the first phase of the TDMP further demonstrates airline recognition of the need for CLE’s modernization, the strength of the Cleveland metro area and the commitment to the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio,” said Mayor Justin Bibb. “We want to thank our airlines serving CLE for their continued support, investment and partnership with the City of Cleveland.”
“Passenger traffic levels at CLE are now regularly surpassing pre-pandemic activity, placing further demands on the existing airport infrastructure and facilities,” said Department of Port Control Director Bryant L. Francis, C.M. “The approval to commence the first phase of the TDMP is the culmination of many months of working together with our signatory airline partners and our combined commitment to deliver world-class facilities which our customers desire and deserve.”
The first phase of the TDMP, provided by the airline support, will focus on “program definition” efforts which will look to refine the future airport facility requirements, establishing recommendations for renovation vs. replacement of existing infrastructure and cost estimates of project elements. The program definition will also include studies on project phasing to minimize operational impacts and customer travel experience. Limited construction is associated with the first phase of the TDMP. Recommendations from the program definition stage will serve as a blueprint for subsequent phases of the TDMP, which will be subject to further support from Signatory airlines serving CLE.
The TDMP will represent one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in the region, with airport construction and increased operations generating long-term economic benefits, jobs and air service to the residents and visitors to Northeast Ohio. The last major upgrade to CLE was more than 25 years ago when a new parallel runway was constructed and completed. By contrast the TDMP will focus primarily on terminal and other landside improvements, providing customers first hand upgrades to the travel experience at CLE.
Multiple airlines have recently announced expanded destinations and additional seats to existing routes from CLE, contributing to the airport's 2024 forecast of 10,250,000 passengers, a more than 3% increase above 2023.