MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is getting some big upgrades, aimed at reducing costs for flights departing Terminal 2. The airport will get $20 million in federal money as part of the FAA's Airport Terminals Program, established as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure deal.
"Really big," Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said. "We passed it, then you think, what's it going to mean for out state?"
As part of these upgrades, Terminal 2 will see two new gates – H15 and H16 – added.
Minnesota Democratic Senator Tina Smith said in a statement, "This investment will make sure MSP remains one of the best airports in the world and has the capacity to meet demand."
They'll help reduce congestion and add jobs, but Klobuchar says there's another added bonus – cheaper flights.
"And we wanna also make sure it makes it easier for residents, and what makes it easier for residents is more budget flights and less expensive air travel," she said. "And that's what this grant's about."
Multiple people KARE 11 spoke with in Terminal 2 Thursday say the reason they're flying out of there is specifically because of how cheap their flights were compared to Terminal 1.
"Despite being a hub, which is a strength of our area, we want to create a strong range of choices," Klobuchar said. "That's what this grant is about, because we're going to be able to add more flights, more choices, more lower rates."
This work is expected to start this summer, with the opening scheduled for early 2027. This isn't the only work scheduled across the airport – there's a near-$1 billion budget for these gates, renovations to Terminal 1, a new safety and security center, and more. For a full breakdown of what's included, click here.