Nashville International Airport (BNA) is the primary commercial airport serving the Nashville metropolitan area and the largest airport in Tennessee. Located approximately eight miles southeast of downtown Nashville, BNA has grown dramatically over the past decade alongside Nashville's emergence as one of America's most visited cities for tourism, entertainment, and corporate relocation, with passenger volumes that have made it one of the fastest-growing major airports in the southeastern United States.
Nashville International Airport operates as a single main terminal with four concourses (A, B, C, and D) connected airside, allowing passengers to move between gates without clearing security again. The airport has been in a sustained period of expansion and modernization, driven by Nashville's spectacular growth as a tourism destination, corporate relocation magnet, and home to a booming healthcare, technology, and entertainment economy.
The BNA Vision capital improvement program — a multi-billion-dollar initiative — is transforming Nashville's airport with a new international terminal, expanded concourses, improved ground transportation facilities, and modernized passenger amenities. The program reflects Nashville's ambitions to serve a projected future demand significantly beyond current capacity.
BNA currently processes more than 20 million passengers annually and provides nonstop service to a broad range of domestic destinations and a growing list of international routes. Nashville's tourism draw — powered by its legendary music scene, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vanderbilt University, and a vibrant food and nightlife culture — generates substantial leisure travel demand year-round.
Nashville's Berry Field, as the airport was originally named when it opened in 1937, operated as a military training facility during World War II before transitioning to full commercial operations. The facility expanded through the postwar decades and was renamed Nashville Metropolitan Airport before becoming Nashville International Airport in 1987.
The airport's modern growth era began in the 2010s when Nashville's population and tourism economy accelerated dramatically. Major airlines added routes, low-cost carriers expanded, and the airport began running at capacity during peak periods. The BNA Vision program, launched in 2019, represents the airport's response to this sustained demand growth.
BNA operates a single main terminal with four concourses. Concourse A handles American Airlines and regional partner carriers. Concourse B is the international concourse and handles international departures and arrivals, though its facilities are being significantly expanded under BNA Vision. Concourses C and D handle Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and other domestic carriers.
All four concourses are connected airside. The BNA Vision program includes construction of a new International Arrivals facility and expansion of Concourse D, adding substantial new gate capacity.
Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier at BNA, operating high-frequency domestic service from Concourses C and D. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines all have significant presences at BNA, connecting Nashville to their respective hubs. Frontier Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Allegiant Air provide low-cost options.
International service at BNA has grown in recent years. British Airways operates seasonal nonstop service to London Heathrow, Air Canada serves Toronto, and several carriers serve Mexico and the Caribbean. BNA provides nonstop service to more than 80 domestic and international destinations.
Nashville Airport's passenger experience reflects the city's cultural identity. Country music and other Nashville cultural themes are woven into the terminal's design, public art, and retail mix. Local Nashville dining concepts are well-represented across the concourses, giving the airport a distinctly Tennessee character. Live music performances have been incorporated into the BNA experience in recent years.
Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The terminal is undergoing significant improvements under BNA Vision that will modernize concourse amenities and add new dining and retail options. Nursing rooms, interfaith prayer spaces, and pet relief areas are accessible across the terminal.
BNA does not have a direct rail connection to downtown Nashville. WeGo Public Transit provides bus service connecting the airport to the downtown Nashville Transit Center. Rideshare services are the most popular option for many travelers. Taxis serve the ground level of the terminal. Rental car companies operate from the airport campus.
The airport is accessible via I-40 and Donelson Pike. Nashville's growth has increased traffic congestion on airport access roads — allow extra time during peak Nashville event weekends. A future regional transit expansion in Nashville has studied potential airport connectivity but no funded rail project is yet underway.
BNA provides parking in multiple garages adjacent to the terminal and in economy surface lots with shuttle service. Parking demand is high given Nashville's limited transit alternatives. Advance reservations are strongly recommended during peak Nashville events including CMA Music Festival (June), New Year's Eve, and major Tennessee Titans home games. The BNA Vision program includes expanded parking infrastructure.
Nashville's busiest travel periods include CMA Music Festival in June, country music events throughout the year, and bachelorette/bachelor party travel that makes Nashville one of the most popular leisure travel destinations in the country year-round. Weekend demand at BNA is consistently high — allow extra time for security and curb congestion on Friday and Saturday mornings.
The concourse C and D areas (Southwest) can be particularly busy during leisure travel peaks. TSA PreCheck is available at BNA and strongly recommended for frequent travelers. The international concourse (B) is undergoing expansion, so construction activity may affect wayfinding during the BNA Vision build-out period.
Nashville International Airport is the aviation backbone of one of America's most dynamic regional economies. Nashville's healthcare industry (HCA Healthcare, Vanderbilt University Medical Center), entertainment sector (country music, live events), and corporate relocations (Amazon, Oracle) all depend on the air connectivity that BNA provides. The airport supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the Nashville metropolitan area and generates billions in annual economic output.
BNA's extraordinary growth over the past decade reflects Nashville's transformation from a regional city into a nationally significant center for healthcare, entertainment, and technology — and the airport's continued expansion is essential to sustaining this economic trajectory.
The BNA Vision capital improvement program is Nashville's most significant infrastructure project in decades. The multi-billion-dollar initiative includes a new International Arrivals Building, expansion of Concourse D, a new Central Terminal structure, improved ground transportation facilities, and modernized concourse amenities throughout. The program is designed to accommodate Nashville's projected growth to 30+ million annual passengers by the mid-2030s.
BNA is a medium hub airport and an important regional gateway for the southeastern United States, supporting Nashville's booming tourism, healthcare, and corporate economy with growing domestic and international connectivity.
There are no Airports within approximately 60 miles of Nashville International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial or regional access.
Nashville International Airport is growing at the pace of the remarkable city it serves. What was once a modest regional airport has become a major gateway handling tens of millions of passengers annually, and the BNA Vision program promises to transform it into a world-class facility worthy of one of America's most visited and economically vibrant cities. For the millions who travel to Nashville for music, food, sports, business, or simply the energy of Music City, BNA is their portal.
BNA Vision is Nashville International Airport's multi-billion-dollar capital improvement program, transforming the airport with a new International Arrivals Building, expanded Concourse D, a new Central Terminal structure, and modernized amenities throughout. The program is designed to accommodate Nashville's continued rapid growth.
Southwest is the largest carrier. American, Delta, and United all operate major domestic service. British Airways operates seasonal London Heathrow service. Air Canada, frontier, Spirit, and Allegiant also serve BNA.
No direct rail connection exists. WeGo Bus connects the airport to the downtown Nashville Transit Center. Rideshare is the most popular option for most travelers. A future regional transit expansion may eventually include airport connectivity.
BNA is busy year-round due to Nashville's popularity as a tourism destination. Peak periods include CMA Music Festival in June, the New Year's Eve holiday, and major sporting events. Bachelorette and bachelor party travel keeps weekend volumes high throughout the year.
For the most current flight schedules, parking availability, terminal maps, and ground transportation updates, visit the official Nashville International Airport website.
Nashville International Airport Official Site