Bradley Airport Caps Years-Long Expansion With New Concourse Opening

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A long-running terminal expansion at Bradley International Airport is entering its final phase, with a newly built concourse set to open to passengers in the coming weeks and add three more airline gates at the state’s busiest airport.

The concourse, which is an extension of Terminal A, caps an 80,000-square-foot expansion project that has been under construction since March 2023 and is located directly behind the on-site Sheraton hotel, according to the Connecticut Airport Authority.

Airport officials said the new space is designed to improve passenger comfort and capacity as Bradley continues to see growth. The concourse includes three additional gates, expanded seating with built-in power access, new dining and retail options, and modern restrooms with privacy stalls, occupancy sensors, luggage storage, and updated fixtures. It also adds a family restroom, self-sanitizing diaper-changing stations, and the airport’s second nursing room.

Beneath the new concourse is Bradley’s inline baggage screening system, which opened in fall 2025. The system uses a mile-long conveyor belt to transport roughly two million checked bags per year from airline ticket counters to explosive detection machines housed in a dedicated screening facility. Airport officials said relocating that equipment out of the public lobby has freed up ticket counter space for current and future airlines.

Governor Ned Lamont said the project strengthens the state’s transportation infrastructure and economic competitiveness, noting that Bradley is consistently recognized as one of the most convenient airports in the country.

CAA Executive Director and CEO Michael W. Shea said the new concourse, along with the baggage screening system, represents a capstone to a series of customer service upgrades rolled out since last summer and positions the airport for future growth.

In addition to the concourse and baggage system, the expansion project included two new exit corridors on the east and west sides of the main terminal, which opened in 2025. Those corridors provide more direct access to baggage claim, car rentals, ground transportation, and shuttles, and include new meet-and-greet areas with seating and arrival monitors. The longtime center exit lane near the TSA checkpoint has been permanently closed and reconfigured to allow for expanded security screening lanes and queuing space.

The total cost of the terminal and baggage screening projects is approximately $250 million. Airport officials said about $120 million was secured through federal funding sources, including the FAA Airport Improvement Program, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The remaining costs are being covered by passenger facility charges and airport revenue, with no state taxpayer funds used.

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting was held Friday to mark the completion of the concourse ahead of its opening to travelers.