Denver Airport completes final areas in gate expansion programme

Credit: DEN

Denver International Airport (DEN) and United Airlines have welcomed Mayor Michael B. Hancock for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the Gate Expansion Programme with the opening of new gates on Concourses A and B. The 12 new gates on A-West and 10 new gates on B-East are being leased by United Airlines, bringing the airline up to a total of 90 gates at DEN, their largest hub.

“Denver International Airport continues to strive toward effectively serving 100 million annual passengers within the next 10 years. The opening of these new expansion areas is significant for the airport’s future,” commented Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Not only is there a brand-new facility with 10 gates at the end of Concourse B-East, six of the 12 new gates on Concourse A-West can accommodate international flights bringing more visitors, opportunities and economic growth to our region.”

The A-West expansion area’s 12 new gates include six that can accommodate international flights. There are 16 hold rooms (passenger waiting areas) with airline support space and a new United Club adding 530,000sqr-ft of space. The United Club will open this summer. Construction of a new international corridor will allow passengers arriving at DEN to have a better experience as they depart the plane and move through international arrivals. Passengers can also enjoy an outdoor deck with spectacular views of the runways and the Rocky Mountains.

The B-East expansion area includes 10 gates, 12 hold rooms and 126,000sqr-ft of new space. United Airlines has opened its new club in this expansion area. United Club FlySM is a first-of-its-kind concept for a U.S. airline and is designed for busy travelers who want to grab a snack, beverage or barista-made coffee on the way to their flight.

 Credit: DEN

Both new expansion areas will include comfortable seating options that meet a variety of needs – rest, workstations, family seating, charging stations, new restrooms and nursing rooms. New shopping and dining options are coming in 2023 including:

• The Bindery
• Uncle
• Maria Empanada
• WH Smith
• Elway’s Taproom & Grill
• Tacos Tequila Whiskey
• Peet’s Coffee
• Market 5280
• High Dune Market & Goods.

“The completion of the Gate Expansion Programme continues to position DEN as one of the top international airports,” said DEN CEO Phil Washington, “while solidifying our partnership with United Airlines. In addition, DEN stays true to our Vision 100 pillars of growing our infrastructure and expanding our global connections.”

 Credit: DEN

“United is proud to be Denver’s longest-serving airline and to consistently provide our Denver passengers with the best on-time departures. We also provide service to more than 170 destinations, including nine countries, from Denver. We are grateful for our strong partnership with Denver International Airport and the many stakeholders that came together to make this important gate expansion possible,” added Brett Hart, United Airlines President. “As the only airline that flies more international routes than any airline in Denver’s history, I want to share our collective excitement for the completed new gates, we know that our customers and the Denver airport community will benefit greatly from this increased capacity.”

The B-East expansion area was constructed by Holder-FCI joint venture. The A-West expansion area was constructed by Turner-Flatiron joint ventures. Jacobs provided architectural and design services for the project and WSP served as DEN’s Programme Management Team (PMT).

Both B-East and A-West are expected to be LEED Gold Certified, confirming DEN’s commitment to sustainability. A rooftop solar system is projected to reduce the energy use of the facilities by 30 per cent over conventional design. Additional energy-saving features include low-flow fixtures, toilets, and urinals, reduction in artificial exterior lighting and increased internal natural light.

The Gate Expansion Programme constructed 39 new gates across all three DEN concourses, increasing gate capacity by 30 per cent and improving the passenger experience by adding new amenities, including three outdoor decks where passengers can enjoy Colorado’s weather and beautiful views. The B-East and A-West expansion areas are the final sections to be completed. B-West opened in November 2020 and C-East opened May 2022. 

 Credit: DEN

The original budget for the Gate Expansion Programme was $1.5 billion to construct 39 new gates. Once the gates were officially leased to United and Southwest, DEN added work to the programme to accommodate the relocation of various airlines to other gates. This work includes the buildout of a new commuter facility, new airline support spaces, technology upgrades and more. The additional budget also allows for the construction of the ground load facility including five new gates for Frontier Airlines. As a result, the programme budget is now approximately $2.3 billion. DEN is an enterprise of the City and County of Denver and does not operate using General Fund tax dollars.