Corpus Christi International Airport has completed its bar with outdoor space for passengers

Credit: Corpus Christi International Airport

Corpus Christi International Airport (CCIA) has announced the completion of a new full-service bar that has a connected elevated outdoor patio and observation deck. It will be the first passenger-accessible outdoor space to be constructed in the airport’s 64-year history. CCIA has also unveiled plans for a new Amazon ‘Just Walk Out’ gift shop, coffee shop, two restaurants, and a VIP airport lounge.

“The opening of the Nueces Brewing Bar and our stunning new outdoor observation deck marks the first of many new passenger-focused spaces to be unveiled at CCIA over the next years,” said Kevin Smith, Director of Aviation at CCIA. “Our goal is to create an exceptional travel experience by improving amenities and operations, which will bolster our local economy and fuel economic growth. We are excited to showcase this beautiful new bar and outdoor space to the 700,000+ passengers who travel through CCIA each year.”

Details of the new bar and outdoor space

The new 823-square-foot Nueces Brewing Bar at CCIA is the second outpost of downtown Corpus Christi’s beloved Nueces Brewing Company, known for its local craft brews and slow-smoked Texas barbecue. It features an 18-seat white quartz horseshoe-shaped bar draped under a suspended wood trellis, decorative ceramic backsplash and under-bar accent tile, wide-plank luxury vinyl tile flooring, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, five high-def 55-inch TVs, built-in charging ports, under-bar bag hooks, and a separate seating area accommodating up to 23 guests. Beverage offerings at CCIA’s new Nueces Brewing Bar include 10+ flagship and rotating speciality beers on-tap, an artisanal-crafted cocktail menu, and a selection of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines. CCIA’s food and beverage provider, Tailwind Concessions, will oversee the bar management and operations.

Directly adjacent to the bar’s rear entrance is a 1,200-square-foot elevated outdoor patio and observation deck, which is surrounded by 9.5-foot glass walls reinforced with stainless steel. The deck also features a Service Animal Relief Area (SARA), porcelain stone surface flooring, benches and tables made of eco-friendly composite timber, and grey oversized planters filled with drought-resistant native flax lilies, bi-colour irises, liriopes, and Mediterranean fan palms. The space serves as both an extension of the bar, offering travellers a place to drink al fresco, and as an observation deck where passengers can enjoy fresh air, observe aircraft landing and departing, and take in 180-degree views of the airfield and beyond.

Details of the other passenger-facing amenities

• Island Joes Coffee, a locally-owned espresso and coffee shop known for its signature three-bean-blends and made-from-scratch baked goods
• Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” gift shop and travel convenience concept, where passengers simply insert a credit card, enter the store, pick up their must-have travel essentials, and then exit, all without stopping to pay
• Gulf Coast Capital Bar & Grill, a full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails
  Salty Oak BBQ, another Corpus Christi favourite known for its authentic Texas barbeque
• A new VIP airport lounge, offering passengers a quiet connected space to relax, work, refresh, and refuel with complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks.

Check out photos here.