Tampa International Airport closed all four lanes of its Red Departures drive at 7 a.m. on August 31, 2026, for a pavement resurfacing project scheduled through mid-October. Drivers dropping off passengers for Red Side airlines must now use the Red Express Curbsides instead of the familiar ticketing-level lanes, according to the airport’s official notice.
That change matters immediately for anyone flying Southwest, Frontier, Alaska, or the other Red Side carriers this Labor Day week and through early fall. Curbside bag check moves with the detour, and passengers who already have boarding passes can skip the ticketing floor entirely by riding Red Express escalators or elevators to Level 3 for the airside shuttle.
- What changed: TPA closed all four Red Departures drop-off lanes for resurfacing.
- When: Beginning August 31, 2026, at 7 a.m., through mid-October.
- Who is affected: Guests being dropped off for Red Side airlines at the Main Terminal.
- What to do: Use Red Express Curbsides; follow signs and staff to Ticketing on Level 2 if needed.
- Bag check: Curbside bag check remains available at the Red Express Departures drive.
What Tampa Airport closed and why
The Red Departures drive is the elevated roadway that usually lets cars pull up beside the Main Terminal ticketing level on the Red Side. Crews are removing and replacing the traffic coating on every lane as scheduled maintenance. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board of Directors approved a $1.2 million contract with Restocon Corp. for the work during its May 2026 meeting, the airport said.
Airport officials describe the project as similar to resurfacing completed on the Blue Departures drive last summer. The goal is better pavement quality and traffic flow once the lanes reopen. Until then, the four Red drop-off lanes stay closed, and the temporary path runs through the Red Express Curbsides that opened as part of TPA’s recent curb expansion.
Bay News 9 reported the same start time and mid-October window on the morning the lanes closed, matching the airport’s published timeline for travelers already en route.
Which airlines use the Red Side
TPA’s notice lists these Red Side airlines as the ones whose drop-off guests should expect the detour: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Avelo Airlines, Breeze Airways, British Airways, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss Air, Frontier, Southwest Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, and WestJet. The airport also points readers to its airline directory for the latest Red versus Blue assignments if a carrier moves.
Southwest and Frontier move large numbers of leisure travelers through Tampa, including many Florida weekend and cruise-connection trips. If your boarding pass shows one of those Red Side carriers, do not assume the old ticketing-level curb is still open. Build a few extra minutes into the drive so the Express handoff does not become a rush.
Blue Side airlines are not covered by this Red Departures closure. Confirm your airline’s side before you leave the hotel or rideshare pickup, because a wrong approach can cost more time than the detour itself.
How the Red Express drop-off works
Drivers should follow airport signage to the Red Express Curbsides and unload there. Staff will help route people who still need the ticketing counters on the second floor of the Main Terminal. Travelers checking bags can use curbside bag check at the Red Express Departures drive rather than hauling every suitcase upstairs first.
Passengers who already hold boarding passes and are not checking bags can take Red Express escalators or elevators to the third level, then board the shuttle to their airside. That path is designed for people ready for security, so have your ID and boarding pass ready before you leave the curb.
If you are meeting a cruise or beach trip after landing, the outbound change still matters on the next flight out of Tampa. Deep Arrival’s Tampa things to do guide can help with the ground day, but the airport curb is a separate, time-sensitive decision on departure morning.
| Your situation | Best next move |
|---|---|
| Dropping off a Red Side passenger with checked bags | Go to Red Express Curbsides and use curbside bag check there. Do not wait for the closed ticketing-level lanes to reopen. |
| Dropping off a Red Side passenger with boarding pass only | Unload at Red Express, then send the traveler up to Level 3 for the airside shuttle. |
| Unsure whether the airline is Red or Blue | Check the airline on the boarding pass and TPA’s airline directory before you enter the terminal loop. |
| Using rideshare or a taxi | Tell the driver Red Express Departures, not Red Ticketing drop-off, and allow extra curb time through mid-October. |
| Connecting from a cruise or hotel shuttle | Confirm the shuttle’s TPA stop and walk time to Red Express before the morning of travel. |
Checked bags, carry-ons, and timing
Curbside bag check at Red Express is the airport’s answer for families and cruise passengers who still need to tag luggage. Arrive with bags accessible in the trunk, not buried under souvenirs, so the handoff stays quick while traffic compresses onto fewer curb lanes.
Travelers trying to avoid the curb crush can shift weight into a true carry-on when airline rules allow. Deep Arrival’s carry-on versus checked bag guide outlines the tradeoffs on fees, time, and gate-check risk. Southwest passengers comparing fare families can also review the Business Select versus Anytime breakdown before locking a same-day change that might alter boarding priority.
Leave earlier than usual for morning banks. A mid-October end date means the detour covers Labor Day weekend, September school travel, and early fall Florida getaways. The airport has not promised an earlier reopen if weather or contractor scheduling slips, so treat mid-October as the planning assumption until TPA updates the notice.
What this does not change
The project closes the Red Departures roadway lanes. It does not cancel flights, close the Main Terminal, or shut Red Side airsides. Security screening, airline counters, and airside shuttles continue, with the walking path starting from Red Express instead of the old drop-off lanes.
Arrivals pickup is a separate curb system. This resurfacing notice is about outbound drop-offs on the Red Departures drive. If you are meeting an inbound flight, follow current arrivals and rideshare instructions rather than copying the Red Express departures path.
Blue Departures already completed a similar resurfacing last summer, which is useful context but not a guarantee that Red Side work will finish early. Use the live airport signs as the final authority if a lane reopens in stages.
For drivers: Route every Red Side drop-off to Red Express Curbsides from August 31 through mid-October. Screenshot the airport notice so hotel shuttles and family drivers do not default to the closed ticketing curb.
For checked bags: Keep luggage accessible for curbside bag check at Red Express. A buried suitcase slows the whole curb lane behind you.
For carry-on only travelers: Unload at Red Express and go straight to Level 3 for the airside shuttle if you already have a boarding pass.
For timing: Add buffer for Labor Day week and September morning banks. Treat mid-October as the reopen assumption until Tampa Airport posts a shorter window.
Is Tampa International Airport closed?
No. Only the four Red Departures drop-off lanes are closed for resurfacing. The Main Terminal, Red Express Curbsides, ticketing, security, and airside shuttles remain in operation.
When did the Red Departures closure start?
The airport said the pavement project began at 7 a.m. on August 31, 2026, and is scheduled to last until mid-October.
Where should I drop off Southwest or Frontier passengers?
Use the Red Express Curbsides. Southwest and Frontier are among the Red Side airlines listed in TPA’s notice for this detour.
Can I still check bags at the curb?
Yes. Curbside bag check-in is available at the Red Express Departures drive while the Red Departures lanes are closed.
What if I already have a boarding pass and no checked bags?
Unload at Red Express, then take the escalators or elevators to Level 3 to reach the shuttle to your airside.
Does this affect Blue Side airlines?
The resurfacing notice covers Red Departures. Confirm your airline’s side before arrival, because Blue Side drop-offs follow a different curb path.
