Airport Terminals Serving More Passengers Than Originally Planned

US commercial aviation’s rebound has stretched many terminals far beyond their original capacity, forcing upgrades that range from phased expansions to full replacements. A look at five airports shows decades-old passenger forecasts no longer match sustained growth and shifting airline networks. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), opened in 1983 with a single terminal, handled more than 11.15 million passengers in 2025—over four decades after planners designed for less. The busiest route last year was to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) with 498,000 passengers. RSW is building the new Concourse E, part of a roughly $1.1 billion expansion, with completion pushed toward 2028.