Denver International Airport Celebrates Completion of Phase 1 of the Great Hall Project

On October 27th at Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock and airport partners from the Federal Aviation Administration, United and Southwest Airlines and Hensel Phelps celebrated another milestone of the Great Hall Project with the completion of Phase 1. This first phase of the project renovated the center portion of Jeppesen Terminal on levels 5 and 6 to create new check–in space for United, Southwest and eventually Frontier Airlines. The renovations created a more modern check–in experience and added capacity in the terminal, improving operational efficiency.

“The improvements in this first phase are just the beginning of a major transition of the Jeppesen Terminal that will ultimately prepare DEN for the future,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “This investment will ensure that the airport continues to be an economic powerhouse for our region, creating jobs and business opportunities, while helping Denver expand its global reach. Denver, together with our airline partners, looks forward to creating a more efficient airport for our passengers.”

The completion of Phase 1 brings many features and benefits for passengers including:

• An additional 31,000 square feet of space for the Jeppesen Terminal as well as 158,500 square feet of newly renovated space
• New ticketing areas in the center of Level 6 with more efficient and state–of–the–art processes for checking–in passengers and their luggage flying United, Southwest, and eventually Frontier
• Upgraded ticketing areas that include ticketing kiosks for check–in and 86 (43 on each side) automated self–bag–drop units to streamline the check–in process
• Four new restrooms with upgrades to existing restrooms

“Since hiring Hensel Phelps, we have met every milestone and are on schedule and under budget,” said DEN CEO Phil Washington. “This first phase was most impactful as we were working in the center of the terminal. These walls are now coming down, making it much easier for passengers to navigate the terminal, just in time for the busy holiday travel season. I want to commend the team for meeting their commitments and to thank our passengers for their patience during construction.” 

The new ticketing and check–in spaces are scheduled to open on Nov. 4 for Southwest Airlines and Nov. 10 for United Airlines. The new ticketing pods will create efficiencies for passengers who will be able to check–in and drop their bags using self–guided units.

“We’re excited to celebrate the Great Hall project coming to life,” said Matt Miller, United’s Vice President of Airport Operations in Denver. “United’s new lobby will make a great first impression for our Denver customers, and will be representative of the enhanced experience they have come to expect from United. As our airline continues to grow and we work hard to remain Denver’s leading airline, we look forward to our continued partnership and collaboration with Denver International Airport as they make progress in the future phases of the Great Hall project.”

“Our Mile High Heart is beaming with pride as we usher in new technology that brings a more seamless travel experience to our Denver Customers,” said Paul Cullen, Southwest Airlines’ Vice President of Real Estate. “As we continue investing in the future, we’re thrilled to see the opening of the first phase of the Great Hall project and look forward to continuing working together to bring the overall vision to completion in the near future.”

In addition to opening the new ticketing areas on each side of the terminal, the walls in the center of the terminal on Level 5 will be removed by Nov. 1, allowing passengers to traverse from north to south in the without detours. The remaining walls in the center of Level 6 will be removed by Nov. 4 on the east side and Nov. 10 on the west side, which will also allow passengers to walk from north to south and access all areas of the curb outside of Level 6.

Hensel Phelps is the contractor for both Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 2 broke ground this July and is anticipated to be complete in mid–2024 with the new security checkpoint opening to passengers in early 2024. Both phases will be complete within the original $770 million budget.