McAllen International Airport plans $180M in major terminal, runway upgrades

McAllen International Airport is planning a transformative change to its infrastructure to address increasing passenger demand and growth. Noted as one of the largest airports in South Texas, airport officials are unveiling a $180 million plan for a terminal expansion project that will upgrade and modernize infrastructure and existing spaces. Construction is set to begin in December 2028. 

Plans call for 90,000 square feet of new terminal construction, bringing the airport’s gross building area to roughly 238,000 square feet. The project will also remodel aspects of the existing terminal, including approximately 47% of the terminal’s current space. 

Central to the expansion is the addition of four new gates, bringing the terminal’s total to 10. The push for more capacity comes as passenger boardings grew 13.4% between 2022 and 2023, according to airport officials. The airport has also added three airlines and four new destinations in recent years, further straining available space. 

Beyond the gate additions, the project targets a range of passenger-facing upgrades across the terminal. These include: 

• Baggage claim expansion and modernization.
• Ticketing area improvements.
• TSA screening upgrades.
• Concession area enhancements.
• Restroom renovations. 

Airport officials have cited tightening terminal space as the central driver of the project, noting the need for infrastructure that can support efficient travel as volumes continue to climb. The scope reflects a goal of overhauling the full passenger experience, not simply adding gates. 

The airport also plans to fund an up to $45 million project going towards runway expansion. The runway expansion would extend the runway by 3,000 square feet in addition; a portion of the existing terminal apron that is constructed of asphalt would need to be strengthened to accommodate the heavier commercial aircraft taxiing to the gate area.

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