Reno-Tahoe International Airport is preparing for one of the most ambitious transformations in its history, with a sweeping redevelopment that will break ground in early 2026 and reshape how passengers move through this fast-growing hub in northern Nevada. New concourses, expanded amenities, upgraded technology and a reimagined ground transportation experience are all part of a decade-defining overhaul that aims to support record passenger growth while preserving the ease and convenience travelers associate with Reno-Tahoe.
A Billion-Dollar Vision to Meet Surging Passenger Demand
The redevelopment at Reno-Tahoe International Airport is anchored by the MoreRNO infrastructure program, a multiyear, roughly 1 billion dollar investment strategy guided by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority. The program is designed to modernize every major touchpoint in the airport journey, from curb to gate, as the region experiences steady population growth, a diversified economy and rising tourism levels.
In 2025 the airport handled 4.9 million passengers, surpassing the previous year’s record and underscoring the urgency of expanding capacity and upgrading facilities. Forecasts anticipate approximately 40 percent growth in traffic, with Reno-Tahoe expected to serve around 5.5 million passengers annually by 2032. Existing concourses, designed in the late 1970s for much smaller aircraft and lower volumes, are increasingly strained by today’s larger jets and fuller flights.
The airport authority’s response is a comprehensive building program that replaces aging concourses, expands gate capacity and delivers new technology and amenities, all while keeping operations running. MoreRNO projects are being carefully phased to avoid major service disruptions and maintain the airport’s reputation for efficiency and accessibility.
Unlike many major airports, Reno-Tahoe operates without dedicated state or local tax revenue, reinvesting every dollar generated on site back into airport improvements. That model has shaped the financing of the transformation, with a mix of airport revenues, bonds, federal support and public-private partnerships underwriting the construction timetable stretching through the late 2020s.
New A and B Concourses: The Heart of the 2026 Transformation
The centerpiece of the 2026 transformation is the creation of new A and B concourses, a next-generation complex that will replace and rename the current B and C concourses. Construction enabling work is already underway, with formal groundbreaking set for early 2026. The concourse program carries an estimated price tag of about 650 million dollars and represents the single largest investment within MoreRNO.
Once complete, the new concourses will be significantly larger than the aging structures they replace, with wider circulation areas, higher ceilings and more space at each gate. They are being designed around modern aircraft such as the 737 Max series, which carry considerably more passengers than the narrowbodies that shaped the airport’s earlier layouts. Larger hold rooms and gate areas will relieve pinch points that have become common during peak periods and holiday weekends.
Phasing is central to the construction strategy. Demolition of existing concourses will not begin until new gates are operational, allowing airlines to keep serving the region throughout the buildout. The current plan calls for Concourse A to open in 2028 and Concourse B to follow in 2029, creating a rolling transition that maintains gate availability while new infrastructure comes online.
Inside, the new concourses will emphasize open sightlines, generous natural light and intuitive wayfinding. Updated digital signage, clearer walking paths and common-use gate technology will make it easier for airlines to share space and for passengers to navigate last-minute gate changes. For a growing airport that already manages tight peaks in activity, those operational improvements are as important as the physical expansion.
Modern Amenities, Local Flavor and Inclusive Design
The concourse redevelopment is as focused on the experience of travelers as it is on capacity. Plans call for a major expansion of dining, retail and service options, with a concessions program that emphasizes local brands and regional flavors from across northern Nevada. Additional grab-and-go choices, sit-down restaurants, coffee bars and specialty retail will be integrated throughout the concourse footprint, particularly at concourse end caps and key junctions where passengers naturally linger.
Comfort and connectivity are also central to the design brief. Travelers can expect more seating across the concourses, with a mix of traditional gate seats, work-friendly counters and lounge-style arrangements. Power outlets and charging points will be widely available, reflecting the needs of business travelers and leisure passengers who increasingly rely on personal devices throughout their journeys.
Accessibility is receiving particular attention. The new concourses will feature fully accessible boarding bridges at every gate, adult and special-needs changing facilities, expanded family restrooms, private nursing rooms and improved pet relief areas. Touchless fixtures and wider layouts in restrooms are aimed at making the facilities easier to navigate for passengers of all abilities. The goal is to go beyond minimum standards and set a regional benchmark for inclusive airport design.
Public art is being woven into the project as a defining feature. Through the airport’s arts program, at least one percent of design and construction costs in public areas is dedicated to permanent art installations. More than a dozen potential art locations have been identified across the new concourses, ranging from wall and ceiling pieces to sculptural and interactive works. The installations are intended to provide a distinct sense of place and create memorable “wow” moments that highlight the culture, landscapes and communities of the Reno-Tahoe region.
Sustainability and Behind-the-Scenes Upgrades
While most passengers will pay attention to new shops and brighter gate areas, a significant portion of the 2026 transformation is happening out of public view. A new central utility plant is planned as part of the concourse program, designed to serve the expanded terminal while sharply improving energy and water efficiency across the complex.
The plant is expected to deliver meaningful reductions in energy consumption compared with conventional systems and to dramatically cut water usage, even as it supports a larger building footprint. Those efficiency gains play a direct role in reducing long-term operating costs and supporting the airport authority’s climate resilience goals. Improved ventilation and indoor air quality are also core design targets, reflecting lessons from recent public health crises and evolving building standards.
Operational areas are being reconfigured to make the airport work better for airlines, ground handlers and airport employees. A key enabling project is the relocation of the South Remain Over Night apron, where aircraft park for cleaning, light maintenance and preparation for morning departures. Moving that area to a more efficient location south of the concourses will help free up space and allow for a cleaner layout around the new gates.
Expanded storage for ground service equipment, upgraded back-of-house areas for tenants and enhanced technology infrastructure are all part of the plan. The airport is transitioning to common-use software platforms that allow more flexible gate assignments and shared check-in points, making it easier to adapt to schedule changes or irregular operations without creating bottlenecks inside the terminal.
Ground Transportation Center and Curb-to-Gate Improvements
The concourse project is just one element in a wider rethinking of how passengers arrive at and depart from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Work is advancing on a new Ground Transportation Center and consolidated rental car facility, a nearly 300 million dollar development financed through a public-private partnership. Early site work and enabling projects are underway, with a formal groundbreaking scheduled for 2025 and an anticipated opening in 2028.
The Ground Transportation Center will centralize rental car operations, shuttle services and other surface transport options, replacing a more fragmented system and relieving pressure on curbside areas. For passengers, the changes are expected to streamline the transition from plane to car, provide clearer signage and improve accessibility, particularly during peak arrival waves when congestion has historically been an issue.
Recent upgrades are already shaping the curbside experience. A ticketing hall expansion, completed in April 2024 at a cost of about 32 million dollars, added roughly 10,000 square feet of space and significantly increased queuing capacity in front of airline counters. That project introduced new check-in kiosks, improved circulation and additional restrooms, creating a more comfortable environment for travelers checking bags or resolving ticketing issues.
Loop road improvements, finished in September 2024, focused on traffic flow, safety and security in front of the terminal. Together, these projects form the foundation for the larger-scale changes coming later in the decade, enabling the airport to manage construction traffic and new building interfaces as MoreRNO enters its peak activity phase.
Flight Growth, Route Opportunities and Regional Impact
With nearly five million passengers in 2025 and projections for continued growth, Reno-Tahoe International Airport is positioning itself to attract more nonstop destinations and additional frequencies from existing carriers. Larger, more flexible concourses and an upgraded ground transportation system give airlines more confidence to schedule additional capacity, particularly during peak tourism seasons tied to skiing, outdoor recreation and regional events.
Although specific new routes are typically announced closer to launch dates, the airport authority has been clear that a central objective of the transformation is to unlock more nonstop options. Modernized infrastructure and improved passenger throughput make it easier for carriers to consider new markets and to upgauge aircraft on high-demand routes without overwhelming existing facilities.
The economic ripple effects of the airport’s expansion are expected to be significant. Reno-Tahoe International already serves as a critical gateway for northern Nevada’s tourism, gaming and outdoor recreation sectors, as well as for emerging industries in technology, logistics and advanced manufacturing. Construction spending, new concessions opportunities and expanded air service all generate jobs and revenue, while enhanced connectivity supports business attraction and retention efforts across the region.
Regional leaders have emphasized that the MoreRNO program is as much about safeguarding the airport’s role as an economic engine as it is about improving the travel experience. By focusing on local businesses within the concessions program, integrating regional design elements and inviting public feedback on concourse plans, the airport authority is signaling that the benefits of the transformation should be widely shared.
Construction Timeline and What Travelers Can Expect in 2026
The most visible phase of the concourse transformation begins in early 2026, when shovels hit the ground on the new A and B concourses. That work will coincide with ongoing projects elsewhere on the campus, making Reno-Tahoe International a major construction zone for several years. Airport officials are urging travelers to plan ahead, arrive early and pay close attention to evolving wayfinding signs as temporary walls, lane shifts and gate changes appear.
Gate closures and consolidations will be phased to keep capacity as steady as possible, but passengers can expect more frequent gate reassignments and, at times, the use of temporary walkout gates connected by enclosed ramps and portable walkways. Updated digital displays and common-use technology will help airlines and the airport manage those changes with minimal disruption, but travelers who have grown accustomed to using the same gate or corridor may find their routines shifting during construction.
On the landside, portions of the loop road and curbside areas will continue to see intermittent lane reductions and detours. Pedestrian walkways may be rerouted to accommodate work zones, and rideshare, taxi and shuttle pick-up areas may be adjusted as the Ground Transportation Center and related projects progress. The airport is committing to maintaining clear signage throughout these changes and to communicating major milestones and impacts through public updates and onsite messaging.
Despite those short-term inconveniences, the airport authority stresses that maintaining the region’s hallmark easy-in, easy-out travel experience remains a guiding principle. Construction schedules are being coordinated to avoid simultaneous closures of key assets whenever possible, and completed projects such as the expanded ticketing hall are already easing pressure on crowded areas even as new work ramps up elsewhere on the property.
A New Era for Travelers to the Reno-Tahoe Region
By the end of the decade, passengers flying into or out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport can expect a facility that looks and feels very different from the one in use today. From the arrival experience along an improved loop road and a centralized Ground Transportation Center, through a brighter, more spacious ticketing hall and security checkpoint, to new concourses infused with regional design and local businesses, the journey is slated for a comprehensive upgrade.
For frequent flyers, the most noticeable changes will likely be the additional space at gates, the wider array of food and beverage options and the abundance of charging stations and workspaces. Families and travelers with disabilities will encounter more inclusive facilities, from upgraded restrooms and nursing rooms to more intuitive wayfinding and accessible boarding bridges at every gate.
The transformation set to begin in earnest in 2026 is a pivotal investment in the airport’s future, timed to meet rising demand while solidifying Reno-Tahoe’s role as a gateway to northern Nevada and the eastern Sierra. It reflects a balance between growth and the community’s desire to retain the convenience and character that have long distinguished the airport from larger, more congested hubs.
As construction intensifies over the coming years, travelers passing through Reno-Tahoe will, in many ways, be witnessing the building of a new era for air travel in the region, one concourse, roadway and public art installation at a time.