Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is about to feel very different for millions of travelers—especially those flying Southwest Airlines.
On January 9, 2026, BWI plans to officially open its long-anticipated Terminal A/B Connector, a project widely described as the airport’s largest modern capital investment and a centerpiece of a broader effort to modernize how passengers move, wait, eat, and retrieve luggage. [1]
The upgrade is more than a new hallway. Officials and project partners describe a sweeping set of improvements: five relocated/modernized gates, expanded holdrooms, new concessions, upgraded restrooms, and—perhaps the biggest day-to-day change for arriving passengers—a new in-line baggage handling system built to process far more checked bags per hour than today’s setup. [2]
Here’s what’s changing, why it matters, and what travelers should know before the first flights begin using the new space.
A shorter, simpler walk: what the Terminal A/B Connector changes for passengers
If you’ve ever connected between Concourses A and B at BWI, you likely remember the “why is this taking so long?” feeling. For years, moving between the concourses could mean backtracking and weaving through a more indirect interior route—even though you were already past security.
The new connector is designed to fix that. Travel reporting from The Points Guy describes the project as adding 142,000 square feet inside security and creating a direct, single-level link between Concourses A and B—replacing what many passengers experienced as a circuitous “U-shaped” walk. [3]
Local reporting echoes that goal: WTOP quotes Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director/CEO Shannetta Griffin saying the connector will allow passengers to more easily traverse between Concourses A and B and “have a new travel experience.” [4]
Five gates moved and modernized—with more of what travelers actually use
One of the most practical outcomes is gate space.
Multiple reports and airport/project materials point to five relocated gates as part of the work, along with larger, brighter waiting areas and modern passenger amenities. [5]
WMAR’s reporting highlights traveler-facing upgrades many people will notice immediately: additional seating, built-in charging ports, new glass boarding bridges, and “brighter, open spaces filled with natural light.” [6]
Contractor project information also emphasizes new infrastructure and upgraded passenger facilities—describing elements such as five new passenger boarding bridges and restrooms with smart technologies, along with supporting electrical work like a new substation. [7]
Concessions are part of the plan (yes, including Dunkin’)
Airports love to say “enhanced concessions.” This time, there are specific details.
WTOP reports the connector will include new concessions, and references a large open space with a bar and a Dunkin’ booth, with the connector aligning near the airport’s food court zone. [8]
BWI’s own construction page says the project will transform the customer experience with new concession space, expanded holdrooms, and improved restrooms—framing it as a once-in-a-generation terminal enhancement for the airport. [9]
Faster checked bags: the baggage system upgrade may be the biggest everyday win
For many travelers, the best airport improvement isn’t prettier architecture—it’s getting your bag sooner after landing.
BWI’s connector project includes a new, in-line baggage system designed around Southwest’s scale at the airport. Airport materials describe it as a “fully in-line” baggage handling system introduced as part of the connector program. [10]
How much faster? Capacity is expected to jump sharply
The most consistent public figure cited by officials and local reporting is a jump to roughly 3,200 bags per hour, up from roughly 2,100–2,200 bags per hour today. [11]
The Points Guy also quotes airport project manager Robert Kleinman stating the new system can handle up to 3,200 bags an hour for Southwest, compared with about 2,100 for the current system. [12]
Some coverage has cited slightly higher throughput. The Sun reports an increase to 3,400 bags per hour, with an eventual expansion potential up to 5,200 bags per hour, describing an extensive system below the connector level. [13]
Because outlets are citing different rounded numbers, the safest takeaway is this: BWI is adding major baggage capacity, and officials are explicitly tying it to shorter waits and a smoother arrival experience. [14]
What’s “in-line” baggage—and why travelers should care?
While passengers don’t see the machinery, “in-line” baggage systems generally mean screening and sorting are integrated more efficiently into the conveyor network—often improving both speed and flow.
The scale described in press coverage is significant. The Sun reports the system includes hundreds of motors and roughly 1.5 miles of conveyor under the terminal, underscoring that this is an industrial-level upgrade, not a minor tweak. [15]
Why this project is so focused on Southwest—and what could come next
BWI isn’t shy about who this connector is built to serve most: Southwest Airlines, the airport’s dominant carrier.
Southwest’s footprint at BWI is massive
The Points Guy reports that Southwest carried 71% of the 26.1 million travelers who passed through BWI during the year ending in September, citing the airport’s latest traffic data. [16]
That dominance shapes everything from gate planning to baggage design—and it’s also why the project is frequently described as enabling additional capacity for Southwest to keep growing at BWI. [17]
“Could BWI get a Southwest lounge?”
One of the most intriguing details in the travel world isn’t a gate or a conveyor belt—it’s a possibility.
The Points Guy reports that Griffin said BWI is “ready and willing” if Southwest finalizes long-rumored plans for airport lounges, noting the new connector includes space that could potentially support one. [18]
The same report notes Southwest CEO Bob Jordan has hinted at lounges and other product changes, including the possibility of new premium offerings—signals that Southwest’s long-standing “no-frills” model is evolving. [19]
Assigned seating is coming—timing matters for BWI flyers
Southwest’s operational changes are arriving at the same time BWI is unveiling this expansion.
A Baltimore Sun/Capital Gazette recap (republished locally) notes Southwest will begin assigned seating in January, a major shift for an airline long known for open seating. [20]
Southwest’s own customer updates specify that assigned seating will be bookable for travel beginning January 27, 2026 and beyond, helping pin down timing for passengers planning early 2026 trips. [21]
Routes and airlines are shifting too: who’s leaving BWI, and where new service is emerging
Airport construction is only half the story. The other half is the route map—what airlines are serving BWI and which destinations are being added (or dropped).
Two airlines left BWI in 2025
A Baltimore Sun/Capital Gazette summary (republished by FOX Baltimore) says BWI lost two airlines in 2025:
- PLAY Airlines (linked to Iceland service) pulled out, citing financial pressure, and later declared bankruptcy in October, according to the same recap.
- Contour Airlines left in September and shifted service to Washington Dulles, the recap reports. [22]
New routes still point to demand—especially where Southwest is expanding
The same summary quotes Surech Acharya, academic director of business analytics at the University of Maryland, calling Southwest “the barometer” for how well BWI is doing—adding that new routes indicate strength even amid job cuts and broader airline changes. [23]
And there are concrete examples of future expansion tied to BWI:
- In an official press release, Southwest announced new international service to St. Maarten (SXM) beginning April 7, 2026, with an expanded schedule that includes peak-schedule weekend service between St. Maarten and BWI shortly after launch. [24]
BWI is also pitching growth in international leisure connectivity from other operators:
- A BWI press release announced nonstop service to Anguilla under BermudAir’s “AnguillAir” sub-brand, with Griffin framing it as expanding access to a premium leisure destination for the region. [25]
Cost, funding and timeline: why some outlets say $425 million and others say “nearly $500 million”
If you’ve seen different price tags attached to this project, you’re not imagining it.
- BWI’s own construction information page calls it a $425 million program and labels it the largest capital project in the airport’s history. [26]
- WTOP describes the expansion as nearly $500 million. [27]
- The Points Guy refers to a $500 million A-B Connector and notes BWI’s characterization of it as the airport’s biggest-ever project. [28]
- The Sun reports a $450 million overhaul. [29]
One reason for the variation: coverage may be bundling different cost scopes (connector + baggage + related improvements) and reflecting changing estimates over a multi-year build.
On funding, a FOX Baltimore “inside the project” preview reports the $425 million cost included about $330 million from airport revenue bonds, with the remainder from federal funding and the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund. [30]
The Sun similarly describes funding from airport revenue bonds, federal assistance, and the Maryland Transportation Trust Fund. [31]
A long runway to completion: planning began in 2017, construction resumed after COVID
Griffin and local reporting repeatedly point to a long project arc:
- Planning began around 2017, with COVID-era delays, and construction activity resuming later. [32]
- WTOP reports construction began in 2022 after earlier work was interrupted. [33]
- The FOX Baltimore project preview also states construction began in 2022. [34]
What travelers should do now: practical tips for flying BWI in early 2026
A major opening date at a busy airport can come with growing pains—even when the end result is better flow.
Here’s how to plan smartly:
- Watch for gate changes on Southwest flights starting January 9, 2026.
WTOP reports Southwest already has flights scheduled to use the relocated gates. [35] - Expect new wayfinding and a different “feel” between Concourses A and B.
The connector is designed as a more direct, single-level route, which should make connections less confusing once signage and passenger habits adjust. [36] - If you check bags, the system is built to reduce waits—but don’t cut it too close.
Officials are explicitly tying the new baggage capacity to faster delivery. Still, baggage claim times can vary by staffing, weather, and arrival surges—so keep the first weeks realistic. [37] - If you’re a frequent Southwest traveler, 2026 is a transition year.
Assigned seating is coming, with Southwest saying it will be bookable for travel starting Jan. 27, 2026—a major shift in how many BWI-based flyers plan boarding strategy. [38]
The big picture: BWI is betting that “easy and affordable” can also feel modern
BWI has long been known for function, low-cost flying, and convenience—particularly for travelers who choose it over other airports in the region. The Terminal A/B Connector project is a bet that the airport can keep that reputation while also delivering something closer to what passengers increasingly expect: more space, more light, better amenities, and faster baggage.
Whether you’re connecting between concourses, chasing a tight turn, or just tired of waiting at baggage claim, January 9, 2026 is set to mark a noticeable turning point at BWI. [39]
References
1. wtop.com, 2. wtop.com, 3. thepointsguy.com, 4. wtop.com, 5. wtop.com, 6. www.wmar2news.com, 7. www.clarkconstruction.com, 8. wtop.com, 9. bwiairport.com, 10. bwiairport.com, 11. wtop.com, 12. thepointsguy.com, 13. www.the-sun.com, 14. wtop.com, 15. www.the-sun.com, 16. thepointsguy.com, 17. bwiairport.com, 18. thepointsguy.com, 19. thepointsguy.com, 20. foxbaltimore.com, 21. www.southwest.com, 22. foxbaltimore.com, 23. foxbaltimore.com, 24. www.southwestairlinesinvestorrelations.com, 25. bwiairport.com, 26. bwiairport.com, 27. wtop.com, 28. thepointsguy.com, 29. www.the-sun.com, 30. foxbaltimore.com, 31. www.the-sun.com, 32. wtop.com, 33. wtop.com, 34. foxbaltimore.com, 35. wtop.com, 36. thepointsguy.com, 37. wtop.com, 38. www.southwest.com, 39. wtop.com
