BTV officials outline terminal expansion, noise‑mitigation and sustainability steps as passenger traffic climbs

Nick Longo, director of Burlington International Airport, told the South Burlington City Council on May 5 that the airport expects record commercial capacity in 2025 and outlined a multi‑year program of capital work, noise mitigation and sustainability steps tied to that growth.

"We are projecting to see over 1,400,000 passengers this year," Longo said. He described Project NEXT, a terminal expansion that will demolish an older annex and add two new concourse areas sized to accommodate larger aircraft and future modes of flight. The new building will use mass timber and geothermal heating and include a pre‑security rooftop garden open to the public.

Longo said the airport is managing about $140 million in capital projects through federal and local funding over the next several years. He listed the Federal Aviation Administration as the primary grant source and described passenger facility charges and entitlements as regular revenue streams: passenger facility charges are $4.50 per outbound ticket, Longo said, of which the airport retains $4.39 and airlines keep 11 cents; airport entitlement grants are roughly $3.8 million in typical years.

Longo and airport staff presented noise‑mitigation updates. The airport’s residential sound‑insulation program has 68 homes under contract this year for window, door and HVAC upgrades, a large increase from a pilot of 15 homes. The airport said a recent FAA change now requires pre‑ and post‑installation acoustical testing for every participating home, which raises costs and lengthens schedules.

Larry Lackey, the airport’s planning, engineering and sustainability director, described the airport’s carbon accounting work and its Airport Carbon Accreditation. He said the airport completed a baseline greenhouse‑gas inventory covering ground operations, tenant emissions and aircraft operations down to 3,000 feet of arrival and departure, which earned a Level 1 accreditation from Airports Council International. The airport said it is moving to actively reduce emissions through electrifying field vehicles, installing more chargers and encouraging airlines and operators to use shore power (jet‑bridge power) to avoid aircraft auxiliary power units.

Longo also said Burlington now has sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) deliveries available at the field but that supply is limited; SAF currently sells at a premium because production is constrained nationwide, he said.

On air service, Longo said the airport has six airlines and 19 destinations (some seasonal) and that scheduled seat capacity for fall 2025 is higher than any previous year. He said average seats per flight have risen from roughly 70 in 2008 to about 92 now, which helps the airport move more passengers with fewer flights.

Councilors asked about parking, public transit and ground transportation. The airport reported peak parking occupancy around 84 percent and said demand spikes during certain holiday weeks. The airport also tracks taxi, TNC (ride‑hail) and car‑rental activity; it reported year‑over‑year increases in TNC trips and said it is working with local partners and car‑rental companies on electric vehicle opportunities.

The airport emphasized its economic role: a prior regional study (using 2017–18 data) valued airport‑related economic activity at more than $1 billion and more than 5,000 jobs; Longo said the airport is updating that economic impact work to reflect recent growth and new tenants such as Beta Technologies and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

The presentation drew questions but no council action. Longo said the airport will continue design and permitting on Project NEXT and will coordinate community engagement and environmental review as projects proceed.