BNA Growth and Nashville Real Estate

What Does BNA Growth Mean for Nashville and Williamson County Real Estate?

 
About 80% of BNA passengers now start or end their trip here, and Williamson County supplies about 3,400 of them a day (FY25, per the airport's September 2026 presentation).

On August 28, 2026, Governor Bill Lee announced an intent to name the airport in honor of Dolly Parton. On September 11, the airport authority board voted 6-0 to begin the process. The final name has not been decided. It is an honor for Nashville. It is also a responsibility, because Dolly carried a great deal of goodwill to the world, and the city now has to live up to it.

That global view of Nashville was on the table on September 30. I sat in the Pinnacle Tower for a Tennessee World Affairs Council (TNWAC) luncheon with Doug Kreulen, CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which runs Nashville International Airport (BNA). Here is what he shared, what the public record confirms, and why it matters if you live in Nashville or are moving here.

Key facts at a glance

Why does it matter that most BNA passengers now start or end their trip here?

Short answer: BNA is now a destination airport, not a pass-through one.

According to the airport's presentation at the luncheon, FY25 traffic split three ways. Destination passengers were 42.3%. Originating passengers were 37.5%. Connecting passengers were 20.2%. That puts about 80% of travelers starting or ending their trip in Nashville.

Kreulen said it used to be the reverse. In the 1990s, when American Airlines was the biggest carrier, BNA worked as a pass-through airport. He said roughly 80% of travelers were connecting. That history is his account, and I have not found it in a public source.

An airport follows demand. People now fly here because Nashville is where they want to be.

How much has BNA grown?

Short answer: About 55% since fiscal 2019.

BNA served 17.17 million passengers in FY19 and 26.7 million in FY26. Both are fiscal years, so the comparison is like for like. The airport says it receives no local tax dollars.

How does Williamson County use the airport?

Short answer: Williamson County supplies 13.4% of BNA's originating passengers, about 3,400 people a day.

These figures are from the airport's luncheon presentation (FY25), not a public report. Of roughly 25,450 originating passengers a day, Davidson County supplied 28.2% and Williamson County 13.4%. Rutherford County supplied 8.8%. The slide's headline said 72% of originating passengers come from surrounding counties and states.

BNA is a regional airport. For anyone in Franklin, Brentwood, Thompson's Station, or College Grove, it is the front door to the rest of the world.

What does this mean for corporate relocations?

Short answer: Employees who move for work ask about flights early, and Nashville and Franklin keep landing large employers.

Corporate relocations bring buyers who arrive on employer timelines and who fly often. Three employers show the pattern.

Oracle

Oracle's Nashville headquarters is no longer a rendering. You can see it coming out of the ground on the East Bank. Oracle now has more than 1,000 people in Nashville, and its March 2026 announcement described capacity for about 2,000 seats across three locations and plans to "create thousands of new tech jobs." The Real Deal has reported a $4.5 billion headquarters taking shape.

Starbucks

Starbucks made a large bet on Nashville. On April 21, 2026, it selected the city for its Southeast corporate office, with up to 2,000 corporate jobs and a $100 million investment. CEO Brian Niccol said Nashville "gives us an opportunity to support that growth with great talent."

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out is moving its corporate center of gravity to Franklin, where I live. The company is building a new Franklin office of about 100,000 square feet and plans to leave its Irvine headquarters by 2029. Some corporate staff from California are expected to relocate to Franklin.

Why this matters for flights

When a company moves a team here, its people want to reach the rest of the company without a connection. More nonstop routes help. I work with relocating professionals, and I have relocated myself. Flight access comes up in nearly every first conversation.

What does BNA's growth mean for travel and tourism?

Short answer: Visitors and residents fill the same flights.

Davidson County recorded $11.6 billion in visitor spending in 2025. That came from 17.4 million visitors, up 3.5%, with 74,000 leisure and hospitality workers (Tourism Economics, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, and BLS data). More visitors help justify more flights, and more flights help residents too.

Which airlines fly nonstop from Nashville, and what is coming?

Short answer: 115 nonstop destinations as of June 2026. Nonstop service to continental Europe is a hope, not an announcement.

The airport's nonstop destinations page lists 20 international cities as of October 2026, including London on British Airways, Dublin on Aer Lingus, and Reykjavik on Icelandair. It also lists Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Cancun, Cabo, Guadalajara, and Caribbean cities.

Kreulen told us he expects nonstop service to continental Europe as early as March 2027, with carrier decisions this October. He has said similar things before. In August 2023, he said BNA was close to securing Frankfurt and Paris. Treat this as a hope until a carrier announces a route.

What is real today is one-stop service. As of August 27, 2026, American Airlines opened booking for flights from Nashville to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Nice, Porto, Reykjavik, Vienna, and Tokyo, starting March through May 2027. Each connects through another American hub.

What construction is happening at BNA?

Short answer: A rebuilt Concourse A opens in July 2028, and travelers will see construction for years.

The $3 billion New Horizon program is expected to finish in 2029. It follows BNA Vision, and together they total $4.5 billion in development since 2017. The new Concourse A has 16 gates and replaces a concourse now closed for demolition. The airport's presentation put its cost at $855 million.

Close to home, TDOT shifted traffic onto the new Donelson Pike diverging diamond interchange in June 2025. The $40 million Central Core renovation runs through December 2027, and garage parkers must enter on Level 1 for now, according to WSMV.

A proposed Boring Company tunnel between downtown and the airport would be funded and run by the company. As of August 5, 2026, airport board approval was still pending.

The airport's presentation also showed a future Terminal II on 309 acres, with no date set. The airport says its plans support growth beyond 40 million passengers.

What does this mean for Williamson County and Nashville real estate?

Short answer: It affects how easy daily life and travel are, not what homes will sell for.

I do not predict home prices from airport news, and nobody should. Here is what the airport changes for the people I help.

• Franklin and Williamson County. About 3,400 households a day start a trip at BNA. Most drive there. Your route and drive time belong on your list.

• Gulch and downtown condo towers. Shorter trips to the airport suit people who fly often and want restaurants, offices, and events nearby.

• Relocating households. A move is easier when your old city and your new one are connected by nonstop flights.

An airport adds no square footage to a house. It changes how easy it is to live in one place and stay connected to everywhere else. Whether a Franklin home or a Gulch tower fits your life depends on how often you fly, how you reach BNA, and how soon nonstop service to Europe becomes real.

Questions about BNA and Nashville real estate

How many people fly through Nashville International Airport each year?
BNA served 26.7 million passengers in fiscal 2026, up 7.7%, according to the Airport Authority.

Is Nashville's airport being renamed after Dolly Parton?
The airport board voted 6-0 on September 11, 2026 to begin the process, and the final name has not been decided (GMA).

How many people from Williamson County use BNA?
About 3,400 originating passengers a day, or 13.4%, in FY25, according to the airport's September 2026 presentation.

Which major companies are moving to Nashville and Franklin?
Oracle is building a headquarters on Nashville's East Bank. Starbucks announced a Southeast corporate office with up to 2,000 jobs. In-N-Out Burger is opening a corporate office in Franklin planned for 2026.

Can you fly nonstop from Nashville to Europe?
Yes, to London, Dublin, and Reykjavik. Nonstop service to continental Europe has been discussed but not announced. American Airlines offers one-stop service to seven cities starting in spring 2027.

When does the new Concourse A open?
July 2028, with 16 gates (Airport Authority).

Is construction affecting travel at BNA now?
Yes. Concourse A is closed, and the Central Core renovation runs through December 2027 (WSMV).

What's changing

I will update this post when a carrier announces nonstop service to continental Europe, when the airport board sets the final name, when the Boring Company tunnel is approved or rejected, and as Oracle, Starbucks, and In-N-Out add people.

If you are weighing a move to Franklin, Brentwood, or a Gulch tower, let's talk. Call or text 615-337-3660.

Bill Diebenow | Compass | 615-337-3660 

Bill Diebenow is a Compass REALTOR® and LeadingRE Relocation Specialist (LRS) serving Greater Nashville and Williamson County communities like Brentwood and Franklin. He serves on the board of the Tennessee World Affairs Council.