As of January 10, 2019, passengers may find their Boarding Pass shows they will be departing Tucson International Airport (TUS) from Gate C1.

If that applies to you, it’s important to know where to find the C Gates because they are not in the main airline terminal that has the A and B gates. Instead, the C Gates are in a one-level building that has its own separate entrance about 300 feet west of the main terminal.

Long-time airport users may remember the building as the former International Terminal until 2008. The building now also houses U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Global Entry Enrollment office.

Allegiant Air is the first airline that will be using the C gates. Its first arrival using the C Gates will be January 10 for Flight 740 from Bellingham (Vancouver) scheduled to arrive about 7 p.m. and then depart back to Bellingham at 7:40 p.m. as Flight 741. The next day, January 11, Allegiant Flight 382 from Provo is scheduled to arrive at the C Gates at 12 noon and then depart at 12:45 p.m. back to Provo as Flight 383.

So far, only Allegiant has opted to use the new C Gates facility on a regular basis but other airlines may follow and it can also be an option for charter flights.

The TAA is looking at the possibility of expanding the C Gates facility in the future.

In the meantime, passengers departing from the C Gates should know:

• They should be dropped off at the curb in front of the C Gates, not at the main terminal. Airline check-in counters and TSA screening will be done in the separate C Gates building.
• Passengers parking vehicles will probably find the TAA’s Economy lots to be the most convenient as shuttles will drop off passengers immediately in front of the terminal. The most direct route for passengers from other parking lots is to walk into the main terminal, go up to the ticketing level, then walk past the B Gates TSA security checkpoint and down the 300-foot outdoor sidewalk to the C Gates.
• During the first phase of the C Gates, the only restrooms are outside of TSA security. Passengers should use the restrooms before clearing security. It will be possible to exit the gate seating area after clearing security to use the restroom but passengers will need to bring their boarding pass and be re-screened through the TSA checkpoint in order to return to the gate seating area.
• Food and beverage options will be available but limited.

Arriving passengers should know:

• Baggage claim will be at the C Gates facility.
• All departing ground transportation options (taxis, parking shuttles, Uber, Lyft, etc.) will remain at their current locations on the roadways in front of the main terminal. Private vehicles may pick up passengers in front of the C Gates but should make use of the Cell Phone waiting lot because TSA will not permit vehicles to park and wait at the terminal.