The Mobile Airport Authority said its new terminal at Mobile International Airport is set to open in fall 2026, keeping the ambitious $381 million project on budget while delivering what leaders call a transformative investment for the region.

The authority expects the terminal’s first flight to take off by November 2026. Substantial completion is on target for September, with a 1,250-space parking garage and elevated roadway scheduled to wrap by March. Final interior work and surrounding infrastructure will finish ahead of the opening.

”We were pushing, all along, a really aggressive timeline,” said MAA Chairman Luckett Robinson. ”We had to decide whether being on budget or being time was more important. The mayor and I agreed that completing it on budget was the biggest priority.”

The decision follows value-added engineering earlier this year, which adjusted features like camera counts and select interior finishes to preserve functionality and savings.

When finished, the new terminal will open with five gates and the flexibility to expand to twelve to meet future demand. Major carriers including Delta, United and American Airlines will shift operations from Mobile Regional Airport to the downtown facility, giving travelers in Mobile and Baldwin counties better access to the growing Gulf Coast market.

”It’s an exciting time,” Robinson said. ”We believe the terminal will be really successful. It will provide a great gateway for business and leisure travelers to come.”

The Mobile Airport Authority continues to emphasize the long-term value of the project, noting the new terminal will serve the region for decades.

Travelers and residents can track construction progress and see project updates, photos and videos at www.BuildBFM.com.