OKC Will Rogers Airport Unveils Expansion Plan Ahead of 2028 Olympics

OKC Will Rogers International Airport unveiled a phased expansion plan on October 13, 2026, including a $90 million parking garage, as it prepares to host canoe slalom and softball events during the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. The airport said the "Cleared for Takeoff" strategy aims to scale from nearly 5 million annual travelers to a planning capacity of 20 million.

Mulder Details Terminal and Roadway Projects

Airport leadership and city officials gathered at the public observation deck to outline immediate renovations and the long-term roadmap. Jeff Mulder, director of airports, said the plan balances landside facilities with terminal capacity.

"This is a monumental step toward balancing our landside facilities with airside terminal capacity, elevating passenger processing and ensuring Oklahoma City remains seamlessly connected to the global economy," Mulder said.

Construction at Terminal Drive and Amelia Earhart Drive begins within two weeks to convert the intersection into a multilane roundabout, temporarily reducing traffic to a single lane in each direction. Flooring replacement with seamless terrazzo is underway and should finish by January 2028. Restroom renovations in ticketing and baggage claim are expected to complete by December 2027.

The parking structure, scheduled to begin construction within the next month, will take about two years. Plan materials describe a five-level building north of Garage C adding 1,538 spaces, though Mulder said it will add roughly 2,000. It will replace surface parking and allow demolition of Garage A.

OKC Airport's Passenger and Tenant Figures

According to akta.pro company records, total passenger traffic for 2024 was 4.6 million, and seven commercial carriers serve the airport with an average of 69 daily departures. The Oklahoma City Airport Trust approved FSB's design plans for the Will Rogers Terminal Expansion Project in 2025. The airport also launched a $3.8 million Parking Garages A & B improvement project that year.

Other Airports Building for Growth

San Antonio International Airport will celebrate the placement of the final structural beam for its 18-gate Terminal C on October 14, 2026, with opening expected in 2028, Yahoo reported. Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects awarded an estimated AED10bn ($2.7 billion) contract for the West Terminal substructure at Al Maktoum International airport, bne IntelliNews reported. Aeropuertos Argentina will invest $16 million in a new passenger terminal at San Fernando airport, El Cronista reported.

Phases Tied to Passenger Thresholds

Phase 1 addresses congestion at 6 million annual passengers. Phase 2, targeted at 8 million passengers, would expand the concourse from 21 gates to between 24 and 26. Phase 3 outlines a vision for up to 20 million passengers and 40 gates.