McGhee Tyson Airport Launches Expansion Project with New Parking Spaces and Shuttle Service

Travelers heading to McGhee Tyson Airport may need to factor in some extra time for parking. A portion of the airport's long-term lot has been closed down as the first step in a major expansion project that is expected to deliver a six-story parking garage and 3,500 new spots by 2026, officials announced.

In response to the closure and to manage a surge in passenger numbers, TYS has opened up over 1,000 additional parking spaces in the new Economy Lot C. A shuttle service, operating 24/7, will ferry passengers from the lot to the terminal building—a ride that's estimated to take about a quarter-hour. In a statement obtained by WBIR, Becky Huckaby, Vice President of Public Relations for the airport, indicated that the airport aimed to have the additional 500 parking spaces in Lot C available by summer.

The Alcoa Planning Commission is currently mulling over a proposal that could see even more spaces added to the newfound lot. Jeremy Pearson, city planner, told WVLT that the commission deferred a decision to next month to ensure they have the most current and complete information."The deferral allows time for the planning commission to be presented with the latest and greatest plan set for their formal review and approval of the overall layout in its final form, which includes vehicular and pedestrian circulation and separate access to and from Flagship Knoxville Drive," Pearson said.

With 2023's record traveler numbers, the new construction is a nod to the growing needs of the bustling airport. Until the new parking garage opens, TYS officials are nudging passengers to check the airport's website for real-time parking updates and to arrive at least two hours before their scheduled departure times. While a portion of the long-term lot remains open, as well as the short-term lot, these closures will likely impact the overall parking situation at the facility, WATE reported.