Fort Lauderdale airport's Terminal 5 cost more than doubles
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The new terminal will primarily serve JetBlue. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's Terminal 5 project will cost more and take longer than originally estimated.
Why it matters: The Terminal 5 expansion project is now expected to cost $829 million, doubling in price from 2o23 estimates.
Catch up quick: In partnership with JetBlue, Broward County is building a new terminal east of Terminal 4 to keep up with increasing passenger numbers and airline demands.
- When the county broke ground on the project in 2023, it was estimated to cost $404 million and officials said it would be ready by 2026.
- The 275,000-square-foot terminal will serve 4 to 5 million more passengers a year, officials said.
State of play: After completing the design plans and the bidding process over the last year, the estimated project cost has jumped to $829 million.
- During the county's budget workshop last month, Mark Gale, CEO and director of the county aviation department, said inflation, the finished design plans and actual market bids resulted in a higher cost.
- The project is now expected to be completed in 2030.
What they're saying: "None of us like the cost increases, but we definitely need the gates at our airport so we're anxious to get moving on this and get it done as quickly as possible," Gale said.
Between the lines: The project is funded by grants from the state Department of Transportation, airport bonds and passenger facility charges.
By the numbers: Among U.S. airports, FLL ranked 20th in total passenger traffic last year, serving 32 million passengers.
- Despite Spirit Airlines shutting down, FLL is averaging more domestic departures than it did at this point last year.
Zoom out: It's not uncommon for airport expansions to cost more than anticipated.
- Miami International Airport's Concourse K is projected to cost $746 million, nearly $150 million more than its 2025 price tag.
What's next: The County Commission will vote Thursday on the agreement with JetBlue reflecting the new costs, allowing the project to move forward.