The Asheville Regional Airport has reached a new milestone in its expansion project, titled AVL Forward, opening the new sleek and spacious North Concourse and TSA checkpoint at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25.

Plans for the airport's landmark expansion were cleared for takeoff in 2018, with construction on the North Concourse beginning in late summer of 2023. Nearly two years later, let us take you on a tour of the new space.

What to expect

Travelers will now proceed from the new ticket lobby (which opened in early June) into TSA security checkpoints before heading up to the brand new North Concourse on the second level.

While the North Concourse opens on Wednesday, June 25, not all the new gates will be in operation just yet. Although everyone will be directed from security through the new North Concourse, for the first few weeks, some passengers will be directed through to the Legacy Terminal for boarding.
Upon opening, three food + bev options will be ready to fuel your trip. A new Aletitude will be pouring local brews, Costa Coffee will bring the caffeine, and The Goods @ AVL will have grab-and-go snacks, plus plenty of local items like Asheville Tea Co. teas, Firewalker hot sauce, and t-shirts from MTN Merch. A Jimmy John's and Tropical Smoothie Cafe are slated to open in a week.

While exploring the shiny new digs, you'll also see a new art installation featuring works from RAD artists displaced by the storm and a grand piano for local musicians to play.

What's next?

In late August, rental car check-in counters will move from temporary trailers into the legacy ticket lobby to make more space for the expansion of baggage claim and the construction of a new adjacent, permanent rental car lobby

Completion of the expansion is expected to wrap up in about 2.5 years.