A decade-long $600 million renovation at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is set to be completed this fall.
The goal was to reduce congestion, increase capacity and improve passenger flow in the pre-security area in Terminal 1, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission.
Here’s what’s new:
Renovations in Terminal 1
The Terminal 1 pre-security area was expanded by 17,000 square feet and security screening was consolidated from six checkpoints to two, according to the airports commission.
Eleven larger baggage carousels were installed to accommodate the current and anticipated number of passengers.
New baggage carousels that were built to accommodate the increase in passengers in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. (Kari Jo Skogquist / Metropolitan Airports Commission)
The renovations also include additional seating and new restrooms equipped with accessibility features like adult changing tables.
The projects were funded through General Airport Revenue Bonds, passenger facility charges and the airports commission, according to Jeff Lea, the manager of strategic communications for the commission.
The renovations allow the airlines and the Transportation Security Administration to handle peak demand and perform efficiently, Lea said, as well as make more space for future increases in passenger numbers.
MSP is the 17th-busiest airport in the United States. The airports commission estimates that annual passenger numbers will increase from 37.2 million in 2025 to over 50 million by 2040.
Sixteen airlines operate at the airport and it’s the second-largest hub for Delta Air Lines. It also serves as the home base for Sun Country Airlines.
Future renovations
The South Aurora Sculpture in Terminal 1. (Courtesy of the Metropolitan Airports Commission)
Delta Air Lines partnered with the airports commission on a $242 million project to renovate six concourses in Terminal 1. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
There’s also a $305 million project to expand Concourse G by 157,000 square feet to increase gate-seating capacity, add the airport’s first sensory rooms and provide more restrooms and art display space. This project is expected to be completed by 2028.
Airport satisfaction
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MSP ranks highest in passenger satisfaction among mega airports for a second consecutive year in the J.D. Power 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Mega airports are airports with 33 million or more passengers a year.
The study was based on 30,439 surveys completed by U.S. or Canadian residents who traveled through a North American airport between July 2024 and July 2025, according to J.D. Power.
The study measures overall passenger satisfaction across seven categories: ease of travel; level of trust; food, beverage and retail; terminal facilities; airport staff; departure experience; and arrival experience.
The airport ranked first, among mega airports, in all categories except ease of travel.
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