Memphis International Airport
In our Memphis Marks Series, we’re taking a look at some of the icons and landmarks that set our city apart.
Not Our Proudest Welcome
In years past, the Memphis International Airport has been a minor point of embarrassment for locals. The dim lighting, bare walls, and drab design made the travel hub quite underwhelming in terms of aesthetic appeal, while at the same time persisting in neglecting the modern amenities and standards of cleanliness which have become commonplace in most airports. Memphis has such a vibrance and richness of culture to offer to tourists, and so it seemed a shame that a visitor’s first impression of the city could be so underwhelming. Thus, when the city announced its revamp of the airport in 2018, locals were ecstatic.
Born Out of Necessity
Although a great investment of resources, this modernization effort was born out of necessity rather than ingenuity. When Delta bought Northwest airlines in 2008, the Memphis airport took a serious hit as one of the major hubs for Northwest. Traffic through the airport dwindled as Delta focused its attention on building out its presence in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport. Without the former hustle and bustle due to its Northwest connections, the Memphis airport grew eerily quiet and increasingly felt abandoned as numerous gates would be empty at a time. In response to this marked sense of abandonment in the airport, the city of Memphis decided to downsize the airport from three terminals to one. However, this downsizing would come with a major perk: a complete makeover.
Brighter Days
This $245 million revamp of the airport features much more natural light, wider walkways, and new restaurants and retail in a more condensed area. Much greater attention has been given to aesthetics with a Memphis blue motif incorporated throughout the design. The airport also invested in higher quality furniture at the gates as well as more convenient charging stations and ports throughout the terminal. The designers were particularly successful in their presentation of the vibrant Memphis culture with their focus on highlighting stunning artwork made by local artists. The embrace of local art in the airport certainly gives it a flare that had been conspicuously missing.
With its renovated terminal recently opened in February, the airport now confidently communicates a more accurate representation of our beloved home to visitors. The modernization of the Memphis airport has delivered another venue in which Memphians are able to express their pride in their city.