As spring break travelers return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) this month, they'll want to be aware of a few changes in the COVID-19 pandemic era.
Passenger and airport employee safety remains key, and visitors will notice a number of Travel Confidently strategies in place to maintain social distancing and emphasize cleanliness.
Additionally, if you need a refresher on airport offerings for your spring break trip -- including prebooked parking options that provide a contactless entry to the airport -- you will find a full list on this webpage.
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 The new rental car counters at MSP's Terminal 1.
Throughout 2020 and into 2021, work on key construction projects at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has continued.
As spring break travelers arrive at MSP’s Terminal 1 this month, they’ll notice a host of newly remodeled areas, including a brighter, more spacious ticketing lobby and new bag-claim devices on the south end of the baggage claim level.
“The Metropolitan Airports Commission team and our contractors have been hard at work the last year, making the most of the lighter passenger levels and advancing Terminal 1 projects at a time that minimizes disruptions for travelers,” said Bridget Rief, the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s vice president of planning, development and environmental affairs. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished under trying conditions during the pandemic.”
Below is a list of some of the most notable projects from the last year:
- A new, billboard-sized digital sign is up on the new Silver Parking Ramp that includes reminders to travelers to keep their distance from others while at the airport, as well as other timely information.
- Four new, large-capacity baggage claim carousels are now in service on the south end of the arrivals level, providing a glimpse of what the full baggage claim area will look like once remodeling is complete (Carousel 8 pictured above). Nature sounds and light effects that mimic rippling water indicate when the new carousels are about to deliver bags.
- MSP also has a new rental car center located on Level 1 of the Silver Ramp. The airport’s new Transit Center is also located here, where bus services -- including charters and the stop for Metro Transit bus route 54 -- are found. Ticket counters for van and limousine services are also located in the Silver Ramp.
- Inside the terminal, passengers on the ticketing level will notice a brighter, wider lobby following an expansion of the building’s façade that lets in more natural light and features energy-efficient LED lighting overhead.
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- The Aurora, a recently completed interactive artwork, now graces the ticketing lobby and is visible from both the ticketing and baggage claim levels. See the article in this newsletter for more details.
- Outside the south end of the baggage claim level, travelers will find a fully remodeled exterior plaza, with a new service animal relief area (SARA, pictured) and a smoking shelter with on-demand heating.
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 The Aurora © 2021 Jen Lewin
Years in the making, the dazzling centerpiece of a terminal transformation is now giving travelers and visitors to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) an ever-changing Minnesota-inspired light show.
The Aurora is a 29-foot-high glass and metal sculpture that is suspended through an oval opening between the ticketing and baggage claim levels in Terminal 1. It’s a twisting aerial wave of more than 20,000 aluminum rings that house over 1,900 hand-blown glass bulbs, each with a set of LEDs within.
The Aurora is the creation of Jen Lewin, an internationally renowned new media and interactive sculptor who led a team to hoist the sculpture into place in fall 2020, and then finished the final phases of the installation in March 2021.
“The Aurora is meant to bring the majestic beauty of Minnesota inside the MSP Airport—connecting each traveler to the awe-inspiring landscapes that exist in the state and demonstrating the temporary and lasting effects we have on our living environments,” said Jen Lewin. “My hope is that through discovering The Aurora, visitors of all ages will feel the joy, beauty and inspiration that I find in all of Minnesota’s seasons.”
Below The Aurora, nestled within the baggage claim floor, Lewin created an interactive cluster of reflective glass platforms that take the forms of public lakes in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, including Lake Phalen, Lake Como, Lake Nokomis and Lake of the Isles.
People walking or dancing across the lake platforms trigger swirling light and color changes beneath their feet that match the seasonal colors of The Aurora above.
 Travelers are starting to return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, which means there are new volunteer opportunities for people interested in assisting those travelers.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the Airport Foundation MSP suspended its volunteer program to keep its volunteers safe from possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus. As new safety measures have been implemented and travelers start coming back to the airport, volunteers are returning as well, but the Foundation does see a need for new volunteers.
Safety remains a priority for everyone at MSP – travelers, employees and volunteers. The airport’s face mask requirement, Plexiglas shields, and social distancing are all part of the airport’s Travel Confidently health safety program, which was launched last year in response to the pandemic.
"Our volunteer program includes "go-guides" walking the airport looking for people who need assistance, people working at the Information Booths are answering questions, or becoming one of our Animal Ambassadors," said Laura Sartain, director of Foundation Programs who oversees its Travelers Assistance efforts.
Volunteer benefits include:
- Flexible scheduling: Pick your own schedule (at least two shifts per month, typically 4 hours each)
- Free parking while volunteering
- Camaraderie and recognition for a job well-done (including free treats and beverages)
- A fun and meaningful way to give back to the community
- Bragging rights: MSP is perennially ranked among the world's top airports largely due to its people
Volunteers also work with travelers who have special needs and at airport events such as art show openings and musical performances.
More information about volunteering is available at this website.
Now Boarding, a pet boarding facility conveniently located near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), recently reopened with new ownership.
Now Boarding closed in the summer of 2020 as people curtailed their travel plans and more people were working from home with their pets during the pandemic.
The facility offers 24/7 boarding, daycare, baths and nail trims for dogs and cats.
Customers can visit its Facebook and Instagram channels to get a glimpse of what’s happening at the facility.
The Now Boarding website is live, and customers can book appointments and schedule daycare online. The facility is located at 6002 28th Ave. So., just off Crosstown Hwy. 62 in South Minneapolis.
Customers who are flying in or out of MSP can also use Now Boarding’s parking and shuttle services to get to and from the airport.
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The Prince store, a popular retail location at MSP’s Terminal 1, recently relocated to the north end of the airport mall, closer to the North Security Checkpoint. The store’s items are themed to the legendary Twin Cities musician, and visitors can find apparel, music, accessories, art prints and posters, among other items.
The Prince store moved from its previous location due to construction taking place nearby. But the move is temporary, and eventually the Prince store will be back to its original spot across from Stone Arch Bar and Restaurant.
Other long-time favorite retailers in the airport mall include Hammer Made with a wide selection of limited-run dress shirts, Aveda for all of your salon needs, and Open Book, the perfect place to pick up a page-turner for your vacation.
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Whether you're a spring break traveler or you're weighing the idea of a trip a few months out, we want to know what you're thinking.
In recent weeks, traveler numbers have increased at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), leading to one of the busiest periods since the pandemic began.
MSP also continues to conduct a survey of travelers, which started in the summer of 2020 and guides the airport on modifications to the MSP travel experience in the COVID-19 era.
Even if you’ve taken the survey before, feel free to respond again, as we’re tracking sentiment over time.
To date, survey results show that travelers continue to be most interested in MSP's safety initiatives, such as the increased presence of hand sanitizer dispensers, the face mask requirement and the airport’s efforts to increase physical distancing. All of those efforts are part of the airport's Travel Confidently program.
Thank you for your continued interest in helping us make air travel as safe and comfortable as possible.
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