Building in Motion: Delivering the Next Generation of Airports

Airports are under pressure from every direction. Passenger volumes keep climbing. Travelers expect smoother, more user-friendly experiences, and airlines are competing to provide the most desirable passenger spaces. Yet much of the infrastructure in use wasn’t built for the way people travel today. Swinerton sees this challenge play out across airports nationwide.

The tension between old and new ways of travel shapes how builders approach airport projects. Executing construction is only part of the picture. A bigger challenge is providing upgrades while a facility needs to stay in continuous operation, no matter what.

Therefore, for aviation construction, success is no longer tied to a single project. What matters is how well the airport functions while construction is underway and how it performs once work is complete.

FROM ISOLATED PROJECTS TO INTERCONNECTED SYSTEMS

There was a time when airport construction could be approached as a single, contained effort: expand a concourse, upgrade a baggage system, then move to the next project. That separation between scopes is far less defined these days. What happens in one area can impact the entire airport. At Palm Springs International Airport, Swinerton phased the Outbound Baggage Handling System Replacement and Expansion project strategically to keep passengers and bags moving while disassembling and reconstructing existing components to incorporate the new baggage handling systems into the facility. The approach was driven by passenger flow and operational continuity rather than by construction convenience.

That same emphasis on continuity carries into projects of various sizes. At McKinney National Airport near Dallas, an ambitious program includes a new terminal, hangars, airfield paving, and landside improvements. Each component serves a different purpose, but the success of the work depends on how those pieces are brought together over time.

CONSTRUCTING AROUND THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE

Lounges and concessions now play a major role in how an airport operates and how it is perceived. These spaces influence the overall travel experience and have become a key way that airlines set themselves apart. Bringing passenger-focused spaces to life inside an active terminal depends less on finishes and more on coordination.

The Air France Midfield Satellite Concourse Lounge at Los Angeles International Airport came together through early alignment with airport stakeholders. Permitting, access, and sequencing were worked out in advance, allowing construction to proceed without interrupting terminal operations. That continuity turned out to be just as important to the project’s success as the design itself.

Behind the scenes, the systems that support the passenger experience are just as critical. Upgrades to baggage handling, ticketing, commercial kitchens, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing infrastructure are phased in carefully—often overnight or between peak travel periods— so the airport never loses functionality.

BUILDING WITHIN ACTIVE OPERATIONS

Working inside an operating airport means schedules, sequencing, and site access must be the product of coordination and collaboration. Gaps in alignment can surface during construction, when changes are harder to make, and reveal whether planning reflects reality.

From seismic and building system upgrades to vertical conveyance and accessibility improvements, Swinerton-led projects at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, CA, have progressed without disrupting daily operations. Such a level of continuity over the past decade has been the result of early coordination with airport staff and airlines, not just execution in the field.

Other projects bring their own constraints but require the same level of discipline. Escalator replacements at Hartsfield- Jackson Atlanta International Airport were planned around flight schedules, often within tight windows. On the Monterey Regional Airport Replacement Passenger Terminal, mass timber experts Swinerton and Timberlab have actively partnered with the managing design-build team to provide mass timber fabrication and installation as part of the effort to bring the facility up to modern FAA compliance.

Effective planning begins with real operating constraints rather than assumptions. When the full scope is accounted for, the work blends into the airport’s daily rhythm.

CONSISTENCY ACROSS EXPANDING PROGRAMS

As airports and airlines continue to make improvements, maintaining consistency becomes increasingly critical.

Airlines often manage multiple projects across different regions simultaneously. Over time, repeat partnerships help reduce variability. Swinerton’s work with Delta, Southwest, and United Airlines spans nearly 200 projects, supported by a shared network of communication and experience that helps standardize delivery utilizing repeatable methods that adapt to local conditions. across locations.

For aviation clients, performance is no longer measured by a single project. Success comes from the ability to deliver steady results across multiple efforts, often happening simultaneously.

WHAT COMES NEXT

Airports keep getting more complex. New technologies—from automated systems to updated passenger processing—are being added to facilities already under strain. At the same time, limited space means expansion often has to happen within existing footprints.

Swinerton’s work on the Concourse B Expansion at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport reflects that reality. Multi-phase work moves forward inside an active environment, with each phase tied closely to the next.

THE REALITY OF BUILDING IN MOTION

Airport projects today are judged by how they perform once in use—how easily passengers move through them, how reliably systems operate, and how well the airport absorbs ongoing change. As the distinction between infrastructure, operations, and passenger experience continue to blur, it is important to ensure that decisions in one area won’t affect others inadvertently.

The challenge for builders like Swinerton is to define and execute exceptional work within an ever-changing, nonstop system, all while making it feel seamless to the people moving through it every day. As airports navigate increasing demands and continual change, Swinerton brings the expertise, coordination, and operational discipline required to build what’s next—without disrupting what matters today.