NORFOLK, Va. — Beginning with the return of the "people mover" in January, leaders at Norfolk International Airport say several parts of its $1 billion "Transform ORF" project will enter new phases in 2025.
Norfolk Airport Authority CEO Mark Perryman spoke with News 3's Anthony Sabella from inside the construction area for one side of the moving sidewalk — or "people mover," as some call it — as crews got it running for the first time. He invited Anthony to test it out.
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Phase 1 of Moving Walkway across pedestrian bridge to open in January
“This is great. This has been a long time coming. This has been the number one public request that we have had," said Perryman as the walkway effortlessly pulled him and Anthony across the airport's lengthy pedestrian bridge. “We’re planning to go operational on this side (from the Departures terminal to Baggage Claim) by the end of January and then we’ll move over and start Phase 2.”
The sidewalk helps travelers, particularly those with mobility concerns get across the more than 300-foot-long bridge. Unlike the old version, which was embedded into the floor, the new moving sidewalk is raised off the ground. Perryman says it's expected to last much longer because it won't be subjected to the bridge's slight "twists and turns" as the weather changes.
"[People] will be up against the glass and able to see outside," he said.
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Continued construction on new customs facility and Concourse A expansion
Walkway users will be able to watch as the airport's new International Arrivals facility takes shape. Having broke ground last year, it will offer customs services to passengers flying in from future international flights. The new facility is located just north of the current North Short-Term parking lot, attached to Concourse A.
Meanwhile, the concourse is going through its own expansion; adding a large space to its end that will see the addition of three new gates. It also broke ground in 2024. Both facilities will continue construction in 2025.
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On-site hotel to break ground in first half of 2025
The airport's new Park-and-Wait lot capped off a busy year in 2024 and Perryman doesn't expect things to slow down in 2025.
“In 2025, we will be breaking ground finally on the hotel," he told News 3 of the airport's first on-site hotel. ”Later this winter, early spring.”
The Courtyard by Marriott will be located on the existing short-term parking lot on the Departures terminal's north side and will allow travelers to stay overnight without having to leave airport property.
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ORF to select contractor for Rental Car facility in the coming weeks
The short-term lot on the south side will be bulldozed to make room for a new facility strictly for rental cars. Currently, rental cars are parked inside a parking garage and taking up valuable space Perryman says could be used by the public as lot facilities near capacity.
“They (currently) take up two of our floors in our A garage. A garage is of course our prime location for parking," said Perryman, who added that the airport plans to select a builder for that project by the end of the month.
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Departures terminal makeover: New ticketing area, consolidated TSA checkpoints, new signage and more restaurant options
Then, the focus shifts...
“In our July 1 budget, we will be going out on the street for the contractor who will build the consolidated checkpoint, and our new concessions program, which is our restaurants and our shops," said Perryman. "They will ultimately following on with our new ticketing lobby and baggage system upgrades we’re going to be doing over the next three to four years.”
It will expand and transform the Departures terminal from the moment people enter to the moment they get on their plane.
Current dark ticketing areas will be consolidated and moved to a new space right on the main drive through the airport. Security areas in Concourses A and B will also be consolidated and pulled forward into the main terminal space so people can move between the two concourses without having to go back through TSA.
Several of the airport's current food options are only available before security, when people are trying to reach their flights. Perryman says the security revamp will allow for a new concessions program with new options that are shifted to mostly after security.
The airport also plans to update the signage throughout the airport, opting for more color, as opposed to the current tan and gray theme.
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Further growth...
All of this work adds up to around $1 billion; an effort to meet the needs of a passenger base that continues to grow and break records. Earlier this week, Norfolk International Airport announced 4.86 million came through in 2024 — it's third-straight record-breaking year.
“70 [seat planes] are probably our smallest. Now we’re up to 200, 248," said Perryman, adding that the airport's gates are overcrowding as a result. He says seating in those areas will be expanded and upgraded.
The airport also revealed JetBlue would become the ninth airline to fly out of ORF, offering a daily, nonstop flight to Boston.
Perryman says he expects additional announcements later in the year.
“I think we’ll see Cancun or Montego Bay in the mix by one of our airlines here very soon," he said.
2025 is looking like another big year for Hampton Roads' busiest airport, with more changes on the way to make the experience better for the millions traveling through.
