Nashville International Airport sets January 22 open house on updated master plan amid continued passenger growth

Public meeting scheduled as BNA updates long-range planning framework

Nashville International Airport will hold a community open house on Thursday, January 22, 2026, as work continues on an update to the airport’s long-range master plan. The open house is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at FiftyForward Donelson Station, located on Donelson Pike.

The session is designed as an opportunity for residents to review planning work in progress, ask questions of the project team, and share feedback. It is the first of two community open houses planned as part of the master plan update process.

What the master plan update covers

The current effort updates BNA’s 2020 Master Plan and is focused on anticipated aviation demand and the airport’s capacity to accommodate it. Planning work includes passenger and aircraft-operations forecasts, an evaluation of the adequacy of existing and already-programmed facilities, and identification of additional improvements needed to meet future demand.

The master plan update is intended to provide a development roadmap through 2047. Deliverables include an updated Airport Layout Plan, which depicts proposed development concepts, and a technical report documenting data, analysis, and supporting rationale. The project timeline anticipates finalization in the first half of 2027.

Context: growth in traffic and active construction program

The open house comes as the airport continues to report record activity and as major capital work proceeds under its multi-year expansion and renovation program known as New Horizon. In the 2024–2025 fiscal year, BNA reported 24.7 million passengers, a year-over-year increase of 4.2%.

In 2025, BNA also reported several operational milestones, including its busiest day on June 22, 2025, when approximately 110,000 passengers moved through the terminal, and its busiest month for departures in June 2025. Route growth has accompanied the increase in traffic: as of mid-2025, the airport reported service to more than 110 nonstop destinations, including new transoceanic service launched in April 2025.

Recent and upcoming facility changes tied to capacity planning

New Horizon projects underway or recently completed are part of the baseline conditions assessed in the master plan update. A major recent milestone was the opening of the Concourse D extension to the public on July 8, 2025. The expansion added five gates, expanded concessions, and introduced the airport’s first moving walkway, among other features.

Separately, the airport has stated that its expansion program is aimed at enabling the facility to support 40 million annual passengers in the future, with projects spanning terminal areas, airfield support functions, parking and roadways, and baggage-handling upgrades.

Meeting details and participation options

• Event: BNA Master Plan Community Open House

• Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026

• Time: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Location: FiftyForward Donelson Station, Donelson Pike

The open house is structured to explain the master planning process, outline goals and objectives, review aviation forecasts, and discuss facility requirements.

A second community meeting is expected to be announced. Public comments are also being accepted through February 6, 2026.