Latest news with #GreatHallProgram
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
One of the world's busiest airports gets a $2 billion upgrade
The look A distinctive multi-peaked roof mimics Colorado's Rocky Mountains with 34 Teflon fibreglass 'tents' housing Denver's unique passenger terminal complex. The design has won numerous architectural awards and still dazzles from where it sits at the adventure gateway to the Rockies, despite clocking its 30th birthday in 2025. Inside, the pavilion-like roof utilises sustainable heating systems and gives a spacious, airy feeling alongside walls of glass to let natural light in and break up hours of claustrophobic, temperature-controlled travel. Small portions are currently boarded up – but don't feel obtrusive – as the airport undergoes a $US1.3 billion refurbishment known as the 'Great Hall Program' to be completed in 2027. Check in It's the age of unmanned check-in kiosks and a few self-service screens are stalled by a 'loading' death spiral. I soon ask for human assistance anyway, because the 23-kilogram baggage limit on United Airlines won't compute with the 30-kilogram limit I've been allocated by booking Denver-Sydney through Qantas as a Silver Frequent Flyer. A gruff employee quickly overrides the $US200 overweight charge, and my haul of heavy ski jackets and snow boots trundle off into the airport's belly. Security Denver is the third-busiest airport in the US, serving more than 82.4 million passengers in 2024. The security lines, until recently, were notorious. Fortunately, the most important upgrades of the Great Hall Program are 17 new security screening lanes – all operating at rapid pace when I go through West Security Checkpoint. There's a five-minute wait before I remove my coat, shoes, belt and a newly acquired cowgirl hat to go through. The most time-consuming process is getting to the actual gates - Denver airport has the largest land footprint in the US and it's a 2.3-kilometre walk to the furthest gate. But the journey is straightforward via an automated underground train transporting passengers to A, B and C concourses. Food + drink I pop out at Concourse B where there's a plethora of options with quick eats led by American juggernauts Chick-fil-A, Jamba Juice, Shake Shack, SmashBurger and Starbucks. Modern Market appears to be the healthiest option with salads, soups and sandwiches. Local Colorado brewery New Belgium Brewing keeps the boys on a buck's weekend watered, while Denver's legendary brunch diner Snooze A.M. Eatery serves all-day breakfast to the time-zone-addled. Retail therapy Duty free includes the usual perfumes, makeup and alcohol stores alongside knickknacks and convenience items. The independent Denver bookstore chain of Tattered Cover Book Stores vies for my remaining American dollars. Alas, those end up going to a $US20 neck pillow after kicking myself when I realise I left mine in the hotel. Passing time Having arrived at the rental car drop-off three hours before my flight, the meandering journey to my gate leaves little time before boarding. I'd otherwise check out the golf simulator on Concourse A, the express day spa on Concourse C, or make friends with the Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) team of happy pooches and one feline trotting around. But for 20 minutes I'm fully content to log into the airport's free Wi-Fi, sink into rows of padded seating in front of floor-to-ceiling glass and watch the sun set over the Rocky Mountains. The verdict Loading My worst airport experience ever was in this very terminal 10 years ago on a public holiday, when I waited in a snaking security queue that filled the entrance hall and extended out the automatic doors into the snow. Today, recent upgrades make it one of the best. Security screening is no longer the Wild West and accessing Colorado's four national parks and 28 ski resorts just got easier. Our rating out of five ★★★★½
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
One of the world's busiest airports gets a $2 billion upgrade
The look A distinctive multi-peaked roof mimics Colorado's Rocky Mountains with 34 Teflon fibreglass 'tents' housing Denver's unique passenger terminal complex. The design has won numerous architectural awards and still dazzles from where it sits at the adventure gateway to the Rockies, despite clocking its 30th birthday in 2025. Inside, the pavilion-like roof utilises sustainable heating systems and gives a spacious, airy feeling alongside walls of glass to let natural light in and break up hours of claustrophobic, temperature-controlled travel. Small portions are currently boarded up – but don't feel obtrusive – as the airport undergoes a $US1.3 billion refurbishment known as the 'Great Hall Program' to be completed in 2027. Check in It's the age of unmanned check-in kiosks and a few self-service screens are stalled by a 'loading' death spiral. I soon ask for human assistance anyway, because the 23-kilogram baggage limit on United Airlines won't compute with the 30-kilogram limit I've been allocated by booking Denver-Sydney through Qantas as a Silver Frequent Flyer. A gruff employee quickly overrides the $US200 overweight charge, and my haul of heavy ski jackets and snow boots trundle off into the airport's belly. Security Denver is the third-busiest airport in the US, serving more than 82.4 million passengers in 2024. The security lines, until recently, were notorious. Fortunately, the most important upgrades of the Great Hall Program are 17 new security screening lanes – all operating at rapid pace when I go through West Security Checkpoint. There's a five-minute wait before I remove my coat, shoes, belt and a newly acquired cowgirl hat to go through. The most time-consuming process is getting to the actual gates - Denver airport has the largest land footprint in the US and it's a 2.3-kilometre walk to the furthest gate. But the journey is straightforward via an automated underground train transporting passengers to A, B and C concourses. Food + drink I pop out at Concourse B where there's a plethora of options with quick eats led by American juggernauts Chick-fil-A, Jamba Juice, Shake Shack, SmashBurger and Starbucks. Modern Market appears to be the healthiest option with salads, soups and sandwiches. Local Colorado brewery New Belgium Brewing keeps the boys on a buck's weekend watered, while Denver's legendary brunch diner Snooze A.M. Eatery serves all-day breakfast to the time-zone-addled. Retail therapy Duty free includes the usual perfumes, makeup and alcohol stores alongside knickknacks and convenience items. The independent Denver bookstore chain of Tattered Cover Book Stores vies for my remaining American dollars. Alas, those end up going to a $US20 neck pillow after kicking myself when I realise I left mine in the hotel. Passing time Having arrived at the rental car drop-off three hours before my flight, the meandering journey to my gate leaves little time before boarding. I'd otherwise check out the golf simulator on Concourse A, the express day spa on Concourse C, or make friends with the Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) team of happy pooches and one feline trotting around. But for 20 minutes I'm fully content to log into the airport's free Wi-Fi, sink into rows of padded seating in front of floor-to-ceiling glass and watch the sun set over the Rocky Mountains. The verdict Loading My worst airport experience ever was in this very terminal 10 years ago on a public holiday, when I waited in a snaking security queue that filled the entrance hall and extended out the automatic doors into the snow. Today, recent upgrades make it one of the best. Security screening is no longer the Wild West and accessing Colorado's four national parks and 28 ski resorts just got easier. Our rating out of five ★★★★½
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
24 DIA airline check-in, bag drop off counters to be relocated through 2027
DENVER (KDVR) — For the next two years, 24 airline check-in and bag drop-off counters at the Denver International Airport will be temporarily relocated. On Wednesday, DIA said the counters will move as work continues on the final phase of the Great Hall Program. From April 9 to June 30, airline counters at the south end of Jeppesen Terminal's east and west sides will move to Level 5. During April, airlines on the west side of DIA will be moved, and the east side will be moved during June. Inside DIA's lost and found: Bags, electronics and even a bag of dried fish According to the airport, the counters will stay on Level 5 through mid-2027. Three of DIA's largest carriers will remain in their current spot on Level 6 — United Airlines (Terminal West), Southwest Airlines (Terminal East) and Frontier Airlines (Terminal East). DIA released a list of when each airline counter is expected to start operating on Level 5, however, the dates are subject to change: Delta Air Lines – April 9 Air France – April 15 WestJet – April 15 Air Canada – April 17 Breeze Airways – April 17 Lufthansa – April 17 Icelandair – April 22 Cayman Airways – April 22 Copa Airlines – April 22 Aeromexico – April 24 Edelweiss – April 24 Turkish Airlines – April 24 Sun Country Airlines – April 29 Volaris – April 29 American Airlines – June 11 Aer Lingus – June 13 British Airways – June 13 Viva Aerobus – June 13 JetBlue – June 18 Allegiant – June 24 Contour Airlines – June 24 Denver Air Connection – June 24 Southern Airways Express – June 24 Alaska Airlines – June 26 Real-time updates on the relocations can be found on DIA's website. DIA said signage will be posted to help travelers found their designated counters. 'This temporary configuration represents an important milestone in Great Hall construction progress. DEN is nearing the end of this major project as it moves forward with the final phase of Great Hall Program on the south end of the Terminal,' said DIA in a press release. DIA said it is nearing the end of the Great Hall Program and moving forward with the final phase on the south end of the terminal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DIA's new security checkpoint is almost finished. Here's when it opens
DENVER (KDVR) — The newest security checkpoint at the Denver International Airport has finally narrowed down a grand opening date. The airport has slowly been replacing the security checkpoints. The North and Bridge Security are closed and the South and West checkpoints are open. Within the next few months, there will be another in service. After the West Security Checkpoint opened in February 2024 with 17 lanes of the newest security screening technology to get more people through quickly, the airport is building out the East Security Checkpoint, which will match the West. What's new at the Denver International Airport in 2024? The East Security Checkpoint has been under renovation to feature facial recognition enrollment and digital identification to access boarding passes and validate identities. After a two and a half-second scan through security, you're done. There's also an automatic diversion of any carry-on that might have prohibited items, so people don't hold up the line. In August 2024, the airport said the checkpoint was halfway finished, projecting it to be done by the late summer or early fall of 2025. But now, the airport pinned down a month. The airport said on Thursday that the new security equipment arrived recently, making the checkpoint look more and more like West's twin. Crews will install the 17 new state-of-the-art security lanes to prepare for the grand opening in August. Here's a look at the recent progress: This is all part of the Great Hall Program, which is years in the making. While the whole project won't be done until 2027, the East Security Checkpoint is in the completion phase of one of the major milestones. DIA in 'final phase' of construction, but finished look will take years The East Security Checkpoint will be on Level 6 in the northeast corner of the terminal, which the airport said includes an extended balcony to match the west side and a new meet and greet area for domestic and international arrivals. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
