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Two years after passenger service returned to Lakeland Linder International Airport (LAL), the city-owned airport is moving ahead with major improvements backed by nearly $13 million in federal grants.
On Monday, Aug. 17, the Lakeland City Commission unanimously approved three airport projects, including building three airplane holding bays — 95% funded by an $8.1 million federal grant — and $248,078 in economy parking lot improvements from the city’s airport renewal and replacement fund.
The largest improvement for travelers, an additional passenger waiting area, is expected to begin construction soon after a recently awarded $4.8 million grant is finalized in late August.
“Our goal is to have it in place before our next peak period, which is spring break for Florida air travel,” said Adam Lunn, interim airport director.
Accommodating growth
Since 2024, LAL has served over 393,000 passengers and generated an annual economic impact of $1.5 billion, Lunn told commissioners on Monday. It’s the 91st busiest U.S. airport among 527 ranked by the FAA.
“It’s all pretty impressive numbers for being still in our infancy with air service,” Lunn said.
The airport’s only carrier, Avelo Airlines operates flights to nine destinations in the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico, notably Atlanta, Detroit, Nashville, and San Juan. Recent passenger surveys revealing overcrowding prompted the airport team to apply for the federal grant.
“One of the biggest concerns was that it’s very cramped,” he said. “We want to accommodate the peak hour of what we expect to see from passenger demand, and it’s a space-limited area.”
The additional passenger waiting area will seat about 150 people. It will include a family restroom with an adult changing station and an artificial-turf relief area for service animals, required by the FAA for airports above a certain passenger threshold.
For families with children, the new building will feature an interactive play area, designed in partnership with Florida Children’s Museum. “We have some amazing ideas to engage kids of different age groups,” said Lunn.
In a statement, Avelo Airlines communications manager Courtney Goff said the improvement projects “can equate to more growth in the future.” Avelo will begin service from LAL to Aguadilla, in western Puerto Rico, on Nov. 18. Goff said the airline is seeing demand “for visiting friends and relatives as well as the tourism component.”
Relying heavily on federal and state grants
Lunn said construction is beginning now on the three holding bays, estimated to cost $8.6 million, with the recently approved FAA grant covering $8,187,000. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the city will each contribute $215,452.
The passenger waiting area grant is expected to have a similar funding structure — 95% covered by federal funds. He expects that grant to be finalized on Aug. 27. Specifics of the project will return to the Lakeland City Commission for approval later this fall, and Lunn said construction will begin “as quickly as possible.”
On Monday, Lunn also presented preliminary plans — currently under FAA review — to replace the airport’s existing crosswind runway with a larger one for “additional capacity.” Classified as a Type A/B-II runway, it would initially be 5,000 feet long and 75 feet wide, though the space allocated is larger to allow for expansion.
Raising awareness
Since former airport director Kris Hallstrand’s departure in June, Lunn has continued promoting LAL’s role in Lakeland’s growth, saying the greatest opportunity remains raising awareness.
Only 4% of potential passengers within a 30-minute drive of LAL choose the airport, according to Flight Business Intelligence.
Lunn said the airport “doesn’t have a large marketing budget like some of our peer airports,” so his team relies on “guerrilla marketing tactics” like community events.
Avelo is also “actively targeting potential customers in Polk County” with a variety of marketing efforts in collaboration with the airport and Visit Central Florida, according to Goff.
“As folks have tried Lakeland Airport, it’s always fun to see their faces when they walk in the terminal,” Lunn said. “They say, ‘It’s simple. It’s quick. I’m home in 10 minutes.’” He said that experience is helping generate repeat customers.
Additional destinations
Lunn identified four markets as potential future destinations: Dallas, Chicago, Washington, D.C./Baltimore, and western North Carolina’s Smoky Mountain region.
Goff said Avelo has “no immediate plans” to add these routes, but as the airline grows its fleet and considers new offerings, she said it will work with LAL and the community “to see what fits.”
Lunn said Avelo regularly solicits the airport’s feedback on potential routes because local officials know Polk County better than airline officials, often based elsewhere.
He pointed to Nashville, which Avelo added as a destination in March 2025, as an example. “Every meeting we had, we were pushing Nashville,” Lunn said. “Ultimately, it’s the airline’s decision, but they did decide to bring that route on board based on our feedback.”
Newsroom note: Details regarding the airport runway replacement have been updated for accuracy.
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