Virginia boasts several international and domestic airports, Dulles and then Richmond being the most well known.

However it is Norfolk International Airport that is now slated to get a large upgrade. Last month a $ 1 billion, multi-year project was approved, with the authorities breaking ground on two crucial parts of the multi-pronged project: adding a new US Customs Inspection Facility and expanding the Concourse A to add three new gates.

These exciting developments promise to significantly improve the travel experience for passengers, particularly those looking for easier international connections.

The new U.S. Customs Inspection Facility will streamline the arrival process for international travelers. This will allow ORF to partner with more international carriers. Popular destinations like Cancun and Montego Bay are mentioned as possibilities, and there are talks of adding European routes in the future, although specific cities and flight frequencies haven’t been determined yet.

The construction for these new upgrades is being helmed by NewportNews, Virginia-based W.M. Jordan Co., and is expected to cost approximately $60 million. The overall upgrades of the 50-year-old facility consist of numerous smaller projects that will extend the useful life and value of the airport to meet the region's air transportation needs over the next two decades. The goal is to modernize the terminals, enhance the traveler experience, and fulfill the demands of a busy and expanding airport.  

The airport master plan goes beyond international travel. Passengers can look forward to the convenience of a brand new on-site hotel, perfect for early morning flights or long layovers. Improvements aren’t limited to new facilities. Airport officials are excited to bring back the moving walkways in the Sky Bridges, making those long walks between terminals a breeze. Construction on these walkways is slated to begin in September. Upgrades to parking are also planned, making the overall airport experience smoother for travelers.

CEO and President of Norfolk Airport Authority, Mark Perryman comments, “We are now 18 months in a row recording breaking month over month over month, which is unprecedented in this country. We are now up 10% over last year at the same time, and we expect to service around 5.1 million people by the end of this year.”

The Federal Aviation Administration ranked ORF 35th in the States in terms of growth (%) between 2019 and 2022, and Mark Perryman believes it is about to flourish even more now that the expansions are in full swing.

This is the first major upgrade for Norfolk International Airport since 1999. Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander beams, “As both the Mayor of Norfolk and as a person, I am very excited to see this project come along. Norfolk and the rest of Hampton Roads is a destination, now we have even more means to support that.” 

While construction on the new Customs facility won’t begin until 2025 with a projected completion date of 2027, other improvements are on the horizon. This billion-dollar investment ushers in a new era for Norfolk International Airport.