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TERMINALS  
July | August 2026      AirportImprovement.com
BWI
This January, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood 
Marshall Airport (BWI) opened the largest capital project 
in its history to the public, unveiling the Concourse A/B 
Connector and a new baggage handling system that together cost 
$520 million. 
“It’s a critical investment that enhances travel 
for our passengers while creating additional 
capacity to support growth in airline service,” 
says Shannetta Griffin, executive director 
and chief executive officer of the Maryland 
Aviation Administration. “The project was built 
to meet the needs of today while preparing for 
opportunities and growth of tomorrow.” 
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 
pandemic and substantial associated budget 
reductions, the project was a success thanks 
to a strong culture of collaboration, formal 
partnering among key stakeholders and a 
commitment to continuous improvement, 
says Paul Shank, Division of Planning and 
Engineering chief engineer at BWI. 
Key elements of the project include: 
• A direct connection between concourses A and B;
• Two-story building addition with 141,000 square feet of new 
construction and 84,000 square feet of renovated space;
• Five modernized, relocated aircraft gate areas;
• A new in-line baggage handling system to increase processing 
speed and improve reliability for Southwest Airlines, the 
airport’s primary carrier; 
• Replacing five existing baggage claim carousels and adding 
another;
• New state-of-the-art restrooms with upgraded lighting and 
touchless technology;
• 14,000 square feet of open market space for new food and 
retail concessions, with an additional 28,000 square feet of 
shell space for future concessions; and
• Sustainability upgrades throughout.
Many of the changes directly benefit Southwest Airlines, which 
accounts for fully 75% of BWI’s total operations. Last year, the 
carrier served more than 18 million passengers at the airport, with 
230 daily departures to 82 domestic and international destinations. 
SHANNETTA GRIFFIN
Baltimore/Washington Int’l Relishes Results 
of Its Largest Capital Project Ever BY JODI RICHARDS
PHOTO: JACOBS
PAUL SHANK

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