New doors at Denver airport open on Sunday as part of $ 1.5 billion expansion

Bright light fills the expansive modern addition in Lobby B at Denver International Airport, where passengers can sip drinks by the fireside on an outdoor patio while waiting for their flight.

DIA unveiled the six-door expansion at the west end of its largest lobby on Friday, two days before United Airlines flights began docking at the new jet bridges. This is the first addition to open of four underway at the ends of the airport halls, all part of a $ 1.5 billion project that is expected to add 39 doors by 2022. Considering some replacements , the additions will increase the capacity of the doors by almost a third.

The additions to the gates are part of several high-priced projects to increase the 25-year-old airport’s ability to meet airline and passenger demand in the years to come, including an unfolding terminal renovation. much less well. DIA plans to announce the reduced scope of this severely cash-strapped project next week.

The coronavirus pandemic has introduced new uncertainty over the timing of the airport’s growth trajectory, with air traffic dropping substantially.

Matt Miller, vice president of operations at United’s Denver hub, said the carrier remains committed to the rental agreement it signed in February to add 24 doors, almost all of them from additions. He noted that even though United’s flight schedule fell from a pre-pandemic load of 500 departures per day this year, Denver has become its largest hub for connecting flights, eclipsing O International Airport. ‘Hare of Chicago.

“Our commitment to get up to 700 flights, we were originally saying, was by 2025 – and I don’t expect anything to change with that schedule,” Miller said.

Two of the six new doors opening on Sunday replace the old ones, making it a clean addition of four on Hall B. United will also take seven new doors under construction on East B as well as a dozen on the West End. from hall A.

Southwest Airlines, DIA’s second-largest carrier, has committed to creating 16 doors that will be added to the east end of Hall C.

The B-West expansion added 89,247 square feet of public and restricted space, according to DIA. Visually, the new space clearly breaks with the decor of the original lobby.

Facilities include curved seating in the center, with outlets installed in furniture, space for future food concessions, and the terrace at the end of the lobby, overlooking the mountains. It has two fireplaces, a bar and a “pet rescue” area.