Club Meeting: Growing to Meet Southern Oregon’s Travel Needs

This week, Medford Rogue Rotary welcomed Amber Judd, Airport Director for Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, for an update on the airport’s growth, current challenges, and a major terminal expansion on the horizon.

Passenger traffic through the Medford Airport has nearly doubled, reaching approximately 1.1 million passengers annually. While that growth is great news for our region, it has also created some very real space constraints. The existing terminal was originally designed around smaller, 50-seat aircraft—not mornings when as many as nine larger aircraft may be preparing to depart between 5:00 and 6:30 a.m.

To meet that demand, the airport is moving forward with a phased terminal expansion, beginning with some immediate improvements and ultimately adding significant new post-security space.

The approximately $120 million first major phase will include new passenger boarding bridges, expanded gate seating, improved restrooms, additional concession options, and a design that better reflects Southern Oregon. Wood elements and other regional touches are planned to give arriving travelers a stronger sense that they have landed somewhere distinctly Southern Oregon.

Early utility and site work is expected to begin in January, with vertical construction planned for later in 2027. Future phases could expand ticketing areas and eventually refresh the existing terminal to match the new construction as funding allows.

One important point Amber shared: the airport does not receive local taxpayer or general fund dollars for its operations. Airport revenue comes from sources including parking, airline rents and landing fees, passenger facility charges, and rental-car fees. The expansion will rely on a combination of long-term airport savings, debt, and available outside funding.

Amber also addressed several questions about current airport operations. Despite what a busy holiday weekend might suggest, parking typically averages only about 60–64% occupancy, so additional parking lots aren’t currently a priority. Fog continues to create challenges, but the cost, terrain limitations, and lack of airline support make upgrading to a Category II Instrument Landing System impractical at this time.

The expansion is also being designed with efficiency in mind, including high-efficiency HVAC systems and additional solar power.

Thank you to Amber Judd for giving us a look behind the scenes at one of Southern Oregon’s most important transportation hubs—and at how the airport is preparing today for our region’s continued growth.