FLETCHER, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The latest phase of the ongoing “AVL Forward” renovation of the Asheville Regional Airport has landed.

At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25, AVL passengers will be ushered through a new TSA security checkpoint and shown to the new North Concourse.

“I’m just excited that our passengers are going to have a world-class experience. It’s bright, it’s spacious, it’s a reflection of our region,” said Tina Kinsey, AVL Chief Administrative Officer. “Look at the view. Look at the view out of these windows. It’s welcoming people to our region and then it just feels like home if you live here.”

The North Concourse features an expanded slate of amenities for AVL passengers, including new concessions, seating and gates, the full slate of which will open on a gradual basis over the next few weeks.

Jimmy John’s and Tropical Smoothie Café will soon join the concessions in the North Concourse.
The Goods @ AVL features many basic concession items.
Costa Coffee will provide caffeine for AVL travelers.

“Not all of the new gates will be in operation day one,” Kinsey clarified. “We will be operating some in the new, but also some in our legacy terminal, just for a few weeks while we do the work that’s needed to bring new gates online.”

While all passengers will enter through the new TSA checkpoint, those flying through the legacy terminal — Gates 1 to 6 — will head to the far left of the new concourse and travel down a ramp to the older gates.

 

New concessions include convenience mercantile The Goods @ AVL, coffee shop Costa Coffee and Aletitude, a bar and lounge. Jimmy John’s and Tropical Smoothie Café will also open in the near future.

In true Asheville fashion, the arts have a place in the new AVL concourse. For musicians who perform with the Music in the Airport program, a new piano has been positioned in front of Aletitude. Glass cases inlaid in the walls of the concourse host a collection of fine art and sculpture.

AVL gallery curator Alexandra Ingle introduces the new concourse artwork.

“We love to be able to support local artists here in the airport,” said gallery curator Alexandra Ingle. “As our first exhibit in the space, we have partnered with the River Arts District to highlight artists who were displaced during Hurricane Helene.”

The new concourse marks the largest expansion of AVL in six decades.

“Passengers are really gonna feel the difference,” Kinsey promised.

Angi Daus, Vice President of Air Service Development and Corporate Communications, with a welcoming standee in the new concourse.