Since 2019, Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky, US, has experienced four of its five busiest years to date.
To better manage rising passenger numbers, the airport decided to scale investment. Launched in 2019, the SDF Next Program will put US$1 billion into the terminals and airfield to improve services.
In 2024, nearly US$350 million of projects were completed. At Aviation Festival Americas 2025, Darrell Watson, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, spoke to us about the airport’s transformation so far and what they plan to do next.
The amount of traffic was increasing, and we needed a huge investment into our facilities to take care of it for the travelling passenger.
Technology was essential to upgrading the airport’s operations. Camera and access control systems have been installed across the terminals to optimise baggage control, for example, creating a smoother experience for airlines and passengers alike.
Additionally, sustainability remains at the heart of Louisville’s long-term development. As well as solar energy, Watson explains how the airport has developed the largest geothermal field of any airport in the US.
It’s 648 wells that are 500 feet deep, and we’re going to realise a 40% savings in our energy.
🎥 Watch the full interview to hear more from Darrell Watson on Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport’s US$1 billion investment.
Questions asked include:
- Talk us through the US$1 billion investment project. What does it entail?
- How are you leveraging technology to respond to real time operational challenges?
- How are you embedding sustainability into your long-term strategy?
Join us at Aviation Festival Americas 2026!
For more like this, see:
- United expand flight routes to cover potential Spirit collapse
- Inside Denver Airport’s Growth & Sustainability Plans
- 14-Time Champion: How Vancouver Airport (YVR) Redefines Passenger Experience
