Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Direction of Aviation Nic Longo unveiled plans for a new north terminal building at the Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport on Wednesday.
Dubbed “Project NexT,” the infrastructure upgrade would completely replace the current northern concourse with a larger, net-zero energy terminal, adding improved aircraft gates, a third floor with dedicated office space and an outdoor patio area for public use, among other improvements.
“This ambitious project is not just about accommodating larger aircraft and boosting passenger capacity,” said Mayor Weinberger at a Wednesday press conference at the airport. “It is about securing a vibrant, sustainable future for Vermont’s largest and greatest airport.”
The project would mostly be funded by a $34 million federal earmark secured by former U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy near the end of his tenure. The city council is expected to formally accept the funding at a meeting next Monday. The remaining cost would be covered by a passenger facility charge, a small fee included in ticket sales to fund infrastructure projects.
Leahy, who also spoke at Wednesday’s event, said the expansion project was about more than just the city of Burlington, calling his namesake airport “a key to a vibrant Vermont.”
Longo said that, with council approval of the funding, the airport could break ground on the new project by late summer. It would then take about 18 months to complete construction, he said.
Project NexT would be the second major infrastructure improvement at the airport in just five years, following a recent expansion of its south terminal, which was completed in 2022.
Despite the increase in space, it remains unclear whether a new terminal would necessarily bring more airlines or flights to the airport. Early this year, JetBlue, which previously provided flights from Burlington to New York, pulled out of the airport. Leahy BTV has since partnered with Breeze Airways, adding flights to cities in Florida and North Carolina.
Although officials did not specify if any new partnerships were expected as a result of the project, they trumpeted the expansion and upgrades as a foundation for growth.
“As we gather here we stand at the threshold of an extraordinary program — an extraordinary journey — one that promises to redefine the very essence of this airport experience,” Longo said Wednesday. “Today marks the commencement of phase two, if you will, of our ambitious endeavor to transform Leahy BTV into a transcendent beacon of innovation and excellence in air travel.”
City Council President Karen Paul also joined the mayor and airport officials at Wednesday’s event.
“The difference between what we see today and what we see in the future is going to be like night and day, and that is a very big deal for the traveling public,” said Paul.
