Tampa International Airport lies six miles west of Downtown Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida, covering 3,300 acres. Owned by the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, this historic hub serves 100 nonstop destinations across North America, South America, the Caribbean, and Europe. As the birthplace of commercial aviation, the location evolved from Drew Field into a major international gateway recognized for high customer satisfaction, convenience, and distinctive public artwork.
The airport features a pioneering Landside/Airside design featuring a central Landside Terminal for check-in and baggage claim, surrounded by separate satellite airsides for boarding. Elevated automated people movers connect the central hub to active satellites A, C, E, and F across 59 total gates. A color-coded red and blue wayfinding system seamlessly guides you through the main complex, where you will also find dining, shops, and outdoor smoking patios.
Major domestic and international carriers are spread across the four active satellites, including Southwest, American, Delta, and United. U.S. Customs and Immigration services for international arrivals are based on the lower level of Airside F. To expand future capacity, construction is currently underway on a 16-gate Airside D, which will add modern infrastructure and brand-new airline lounges to handle growing passenger travel.
01 Terminals & concourses
Handles baggage and ticketing functions in a central facility. It connects to all airside satellites via automated people movers.
Features 16 gates serving domestic carriers. It includes dining options, gift shops, and an outdoor smoking patio.
Contains 16 gates housing major low-cost and domestic airlines. It provides food court dining and gift shopping.
Houses 13 gates with duty-free and standard retail shops. It serves domestic and international flight departures.
Features 14 gates and houses lower-level U.S. Customs and Immigration services for international flights.
A new 16-gate facility under construction to handle both domestic and international air travel.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at TPA
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from TPA
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Automated People Mover | Elevated automated shuttle cars connect the central Landside Terminal directly to each Airside satellite. |
| SkyConnect | An automated train using Mitsubishi Crystal Mover vehicles connecting the main terminal complex to the Rental Car Center. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Two new airline lounges are planned for Airside D, including one operated by Delta Air Lines.
