Denver figuring out where to put other airlines after gate deals with United and Southwest
Denver International Airport faces a puzzle. Its two largest carriers Southwest Airlines and United Airlines have deals for new gates under construction at the field, but questions continue to swirl around where other carriers will go — and grow — in the Mile High City.
The future locations of Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines in Denver (DEN) are at the center of the intrigue. Some of their existing gates, or all in Delta's case, will shift to United when that carrier takes over 23 gates on the eastern end of Concourse A by early 2022. United's expansion includes 12 new and 11 existing gates at the airport.
“We have enough gates for everyone to grow," Denver Airport CEO Kim Day told TPG on the sidelines of the U.S. Chamber of Summit Aviation Summit in Washington on Thursday. She added that the Southwest and United agreements are only the first of several with the airport's airlines, and that "there's more to come."
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Asked what the airport plans to do with Delta and Frontier, Day said they will both be accommodated but where they move is still in the works. Delta, she added, has requested one additional gate on top of the six they already use.
One outlet for Denver airport's growth are nine temporary gates on the eastern end of Concourse A. Opened in 2018 just as work on the larger expansion got under way, the facility will receive some "modifications," as Day put it, to extend its life.
The temporary Concourse A wing will be home for "one of our airline partners" once United moves into its new digs, said Day. She declined to say what airline will move in.
Related: Southwest Airlines has big plans for its new gates in Denver
It's perhaps worth noting that the temporary A wing has nine gates, the same number that hometown carrier Frontier currently uses.
The new gates are part of a larger multi-billion dollar expansion of Denver airport. Works includes an upgraded terminal, additional carriages on the terminal-concourse train, and new outdoor patios on the ends of the three concourses.
The capital works at Denver airport come amid a decade of passenger traffic growth. Last year, a record 69 million travelers passed through the facility on the plains east of the city.
Executives at both Southwest and United say their airlines plan to grow at the airport in the coming years. United has even said it could operate more than 700 departures from Denver by 2025.
Related: United Airlines marks new Denver gates with more long-haul seats
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees