Colorado Springs Airport has wrapped up a three-year, $63 million terminal makeover that reworked its 12-gate concourse with new signage, refreshed bathrooms, more accessible seating and a wave of new food options — all without spending local taxpayer dollars. The overhaul, which began construction in September 2023, touched nearly every corner of the passenger experience at Colorado's second-largest airport, from energy-efficient windows to an updated passenger processing system meant to speed up boarding and security screening.
The renovation was funded through a mix of airport revenue and federal money, according to Axios, including $27.5 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Airport revenue covered the remainder of the costs. The project traces back to a 20-year master plan the airport adopted in 2022 that calls for more than $1.2 billion in development over the coming decades, including the possibility of additional gates down the road.
New Bites and a Brewery Join the Concourse
Travelers passing through the terminal will soon find familiar names alongside local flavor. The airport plans to add Einstein Bros. Bagels, Smashburger and Street Eats by Brother Luck, expanding its terminal dining options well beyond what existed before the renovation. Colorado Craft, a local brewery already inside the terminal, gives the concourse a homegrown option amid the new national chains.
For travelers looking for something more upscale, The Lounge Colorado Springs offers food and drinks through a $38 day pass, according to the same Axios report. Aviation director Alex Kovacs described the facility's broader role in the region, calling the airport a gateway to the Pikes Peak region and southern Colorado.
Three Decades of Wear, Fixed Without New Taxes
The project builds on infrastructure that had gone largely untouched since the terminal originally opened, according to the Aviation Pros account of the project, known internally as ElevateCOS. That reporting notes the post-security concourse hadn't seen a major physical overhaul since the terminal opened in October 1994, though pre-security areas were updated following a 2018 terminal roof fire. The work was structured across eight phases covering roughly 63,000 square feet, a sequencing strategy designed to keep all 12 gates operational throughout construction.
Federal support for the project came in stages. Per Aviation Pros, the Federal Aviation Administration awarded $6 million in March 2023, another $8 million in October 2024, and $5.9 million in January 2025 — all under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs that fund airport terminal improvements nationwide. Those grants, layered with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act money cited by Axios, made up the bulk of financing that kept the project off the backs of local taxpayers.
A New Front Door to International Travel
The upgrades weren't purely cosmetic. The modernization included construction of a Federal Inspection Services facility in the East Terminal, a change that allowed the airport to host its first-ever international route when Southwest Airlines launched seasonal flights to Cancun, Mexico, in June 2025, as reported by Air Service One. That outlet notes the Cancun route marked the first scheduled international passenger service in the airport's history.
Accessibility was also central to the redesign. Physical upgrades included electrochromic smart-tint windows, energy-efficient LED lighting, raised ceilings, family care rooms, and a public address system equipped with hearing loop technology for hearing-impaired travelers, according to the Denver Gazette. Those features were tailored in part to accommodate local Paralympic athletes and disabled military veterans who pass through the terminal regularly.
A Growing Alternative to Denver
Colorado Springs Airport now serves nearly 2.5 million annual passengers, and its location gives it a distinct role beyond typical commercial traffic. The airport covers 7,200 acres and shares airfield space with Peterson Space Force Base, according to background compiled from Wikipedia, making it a key transport node for active-duty military personnel, defense contractors, and aerospace businesses across El Paso County. Peterson Space Force Base is home to Space Base Delta 1 and the Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing.
Leadership on the project shifted hands near its completion. Alex Kovacs became acting director of aviation in February 2025 after previously serving as assistant director of construction and finance, taking over from Greg Phillips, who retired after leading the airport since 2017 and launching the ElevateCOS initiative, per a report from Airport X. Kovacs had earlier held finance and operational roles at Nevada's Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority before joining Colorado Springs Airport in 2024.
The completed makeover arrives as the airport continues to post strong passenger numbers, building on traffic growth Hoodline previously reported. With Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Allegiant Air all currently serving the airport, the newly modernized concourse gives travelers a reworked gateway to the Pikes Peak region as the facility settles into its next chapter.
