Nashville International Airport (BNA) has officially opened its expanded and upgraded interim International Arrivals Building (IAB) following a US$8.2m improvement project.
The new IAB is part of the airport’s BNA Vision project, which will include the construction of a larger state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility (IAF), slated to open in 2023.
The IAB will serve as an interim international passenger processing and welcome center while the permanent IAF is being designed and constructed.
The interim IAB will accommodate immediate needs for additional international capacity, specifically with British Airways’s new non-stop service from BNA to London Heathrow Airport five days a week, beginning May 4, 2018.
“By all projections, Nashville is increasingly becoming an international destination, and it’s important we have the facilities to accommodate that trend,” said Bobby Joslin, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA) board chair.
“This is the first phase under our BNA Vision plan and will serve to meet those international travel demands until the terminal expansion is completed. We’re another step closer to the world-class airport we’re building for this world-class city.”
“Our upgraded interim International Arrivals Building expands our ability to serve international passengers flying to Nashville, whether from the UK, Mexico, the Caribbean, or elsewhere,” said Doug Kreulen, MNAA president and CEO.
“It was built with convenience in mind and will significantly improve and expedite the process for passengers until our permanent, state-of-the-art International Arrivals Facility opens in 2023.”
Upgrades to the interim IAB include a second passenger boarding bridge; improvements to the US Customs and Border Protection processing area, including self-check kiosks and screening equipment; and a new, direct connection between the interim IAB and baggage claim, eliminating the need to re-check baggage or be re-screened by the Transportation Security Administration, unless transferring to a domestic flight.
Construction on the interim IAB project began in May 2017 and concluded at the end of February 2018. As a result of the upgrades and improvements, BNA’s processing capacity for international arrivals has increased from 200 passengers per hour to 400 passengers per hour.
