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airport update

Room to Grow

Passenger traffic drives big projects at Denver International Airport. BY NICOLE QUASTÉ

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT stands out among the rest, though, the airport has work to do above and below ground. NEW
not only for its iconic tented architecture resembling the majestic, Following significant delays during Thanksgiving, the airport an- ADDITIONS:
snowcapped Rocky Mountains but also for its sheer size, unique art nounced plans to increase capacity and reliability of the underground Seating in
Concourse C (left),
exhibits, solar energy system and many accolades. trains that ferry passengers between concourses. The Denver City and Smashburger
Some 1,500 commercial flights to 180 non-stop destinations Council will sign a new contract with Bombardier Transportation (right)
depart DEN daily, and 10 new destinations were added since Jan. Holdings USA, the current train operator, worth nearly $162 million. PHOTOS: © DENVER
1, 2017, including Long Beach, Calif. (LGB); Belize City, Belize The contract will add 15 new employees devoted to operations and INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
(BZE); Pensacola, Fla. (PNS); Columbia, Mo. (COU); Providence, maintenance, trains and tracks.
R.I. (PVD); London Gatwick (LGW); and Cozumel, Mexico (CZM). In less serious news, the airport made headlines in November with
Recent carriers added include Norwegian Air in September and the opening of a restaurant and bowling alley by Punch Bowl Social
Copa Airlines in December, and Edelweiss will join in June. United in the defunct Stapleton International Airport, the city’s primary hub
Airlines also plans to grow its hub at DEN to 400 daily departures 1929–1995. The venue offers bowling, karaoke, diner-style food and
in 2019, potentially pushing it ahead of other hubs to become the a cocktail bar.
second-busiest. Back at DEN, travelers welcomed the new Smashburger restau-
With 53 square miles of land, DEN is one of the few major U.S. rant, a Colorado-based company, in Concourse C in November, and a
airports with room to expand its current facilities. With six runways, second will follow in Concourse B this spring. Also coming this year is
including one measuring 16,000 feet — the longest commercial the highly anticipated Denver Central Market, with 17 new shops and
runway in North America — and room for an additional six, the restaurants including Vero Italian, SK Provisions, Curio Bar and Izzio
airport has the opportunity to plan ahead and avoid the overcrowding Artisan Bakery. The high-end restaurants will open in Concourse A.
plaguing airports across the country and around the world. In 2016 Those looking for a way to unwind between flights can enjoy a private
DEN saw a record-breaking 58.3 million passengers, an 11 percent yoga session at the newly opened Yoga on the Fly in Terminal 3.
increase year over year, ranking the airport the third-fastest-growing In addition to being one of the best airports for food and fitness,
airport in the world behind only Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Delhi the airport was recognized several times in 2017 for its projects and
(DEL). operations, including an Outstanding Sustainability Infrastructure
Rapid passenger growth drives big projects at DEN, including a Development award for the Hotel and Transit Center, a No. 5 ranking DENVER
$650 million renovation of the terminal building and a $65 million among mega airports from J.D. Power, and No. 2 and No. 3 rankings INTERNATIONAL
gate expansion project with 39 additional gates installed by 2021. In for Best Regional Airport and Best Airport Serving 50–60 million AIRPORT
order to accommodate the projected 80 million passengers by 2030, passengers from Skytrax, respectively. flydenver.com

80 globaltravelerusa.com FEBRUARY 2018