Medford Airport Plans Major Expansion to Meet Growing Demand

Medford, Oregon- The Rogue Valley International–Medford Airport (MFR), Oregon’s third-busiest commercial airport, has announced plans for a major terminal expansion to address increasing passenger traffic. The project aims to nearly double the terminal’s size, with construction estimated to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2026.

According to Airport Director Amber Judd, the expansion is necessary to meet projected passenger growth. “Our terminal is only 15 years old, but it was designed for a lot of smaller, regional jets, which really don’t exist at MFR anymore, and the airline trend is only bigger and bigger aircraft,” Judd said during a presentation to the Jackson County Commissioners on November 26, 2024.

Currently, MFR serves a region of more than 600,000 people across Southern Oregon and Northern California. It is the state’s third busiest airport, behind Portland International Airport and Eugene Airport. Officials project that the number of annual passengers will reach 1.5 million by 2032 and two million by 2042, nearly double current levels.

The proposed $180 million expansion will include a new two-story concourse with six jet bridges, as well as a ground-level concourse with two additional jet bridges. The expansion will also feature thousands of square feet of retail space and an additional baggage carousel to accommodate increased operations.

In early 2025, the airport will begin the first of four total phases, and select a designer or architectural firm for the project. Engineering and design firm Mead & Hunt, which previously worked on an expansion at Eugene Airport, has presented several design concepts. No final design has been selected.

Although many frequent travelers have expressed interest in Southwest Airlines service at MFR, there has been no formal announcement regarding new carriers. Mead & Hunt’s work on the Eugene Airport expansion contributed to securing Southwest service there, but officials have not commented on the possibility of a similar outcome.

Currently, there are no available ticket reception counters for any potential new airline, as they are all in use. The expansion would also significantly add to the counter space airlines require.

Jackson County owns the airport, but MFR operates independently without county funding. Airport officials plan to keep the public informed with updates throughout the planning, design, and construction phases. Medford Alert will continue to provide the latest on this massive project as it progresses.