In 1971, Tampa International Airport's new terminal complex officially opened. It's landside/airside terminal complex designed like a spoked wheel, was the first of its kind. The next year, a new Federal Aviation Administration control tower, ground level equipment, and radar rooms began operation. At 207 feet above mean sea level, the tower was the highest in the nation until Orlando International broke that record in 2002 with a 345-foot tower. And, in 1973 the airport received its rating as a large-hub airport. Three decades later, and a number of expansions, has seen the airport grow into a world-class facility.
In fact, Tampa International Airport was rated best in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in 2003, which also rated Tampa International among the top three in the world.
Last year, Tampa International Airport handled over 17-million passengers and over 164-million pounds of cargo to become one of the busiest in Florida.
