New Albany Airport Departure Hall Spring Opening: What Travelers Need to Know

If you have been through Albany International Airport lately, you have probably noticed a lot of construction. Now we finally have a date for when travelers will start seeing the payoff.

The airport says the new departure hall, the main feature of its $100 million expansion project, will partially open this spring.

This new space is being built between the north parking garage and the main terminal. It replaces the old pedestrian bridge that used to connect the two. Instead of a narrow walkway, travelers will now walk into a much bigger, brighter area with high ceilings, tall windows, seating, and a more open layout designed to feel less cramped.

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Airport officials say the goal is to make things easier and more comfortable for passengers, especially when it comes to waiting in line for security. They expect the extra room to reduce congestion and make the whole process feel less stressful.

That said, the April 24th opening is only the first phase. Only about 6,000 square feet of the planned 14,000 square foot hall will be finished at that point.

More work is still coming, including moving the TSA checkpoint into the new hall and completing the connection between the hall and the north parking garage. That part is expected to be done by next winter. Until then, travelers will reach the new hall using new escalators and elevators from the ground floor.

Once everything is complete, the TSA checkpoint area will have about twice as much space for lines. That should help as passenger traffic continues to grow. Albany International saw a record 1.6 million boardings last year, with more than 3 million total passengers when arrivals are included.