Southwest Airlines has big plans for its new gates in Denver
Southwest Airlines has big plans for the 16 gates it is on track to add to its facilities in Denver.
The Dallas-based carrier plans to use the gates to add more routes from Denver International Airport (DEN), such as the airline's recently unveiled service to Steamboat Springs, Southwest managing director of airport affairs Steve Sisneros said Wednesday. The airline will also add frequencies on many of its more than 69 existing routes from the airport.
“It’s adding depth and breadth to the markets we serve,” he told a Denver City Council committee on Southwest's plans for the gates.
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Under the deal that was approved by the committee Wednesday, Southwest will add 16 under-construction gates on the east end of Concourse C to the 24 it already controls there. It will move into the new facilities by the middle of 2022.
United Airlines, Southwest’s prime competitor, recently signed a similar deal with the city. The Chicago-based carrier will add 24 gates on Concourses A and B to the 66 it currently has there. The airline plans to use the gates to grow its hub in the Mile High City to more than 700 departures by 2025, up from roughly 540 departures it operates there this summer.
Together, Southwest and United will take all of the 39 new gates that are under construction at Denver airport. The works include new areas for passengers to wait for flights, and outdoor patios on all three of the airport’s concourses.
“It really is going to be a fantastic customer experience for [travelers] when we get this done,” Denver airport’s finance chief Gisela Shanahan said at the meeting.
Related: Southwest is getting more gates at Denver airport
One thing absent from the proceedings was where other airlines will go with the Southwest and United deals. While the former’s agreement is only for new, unassigned gates, the latter’s accord would displace both Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines from some or all of their current facilities in Concourse A.
Southwest and United’s growth in Denver comes as the airport posted yet another record year in 2019. More than 69 million passengers passed through the facility -- the fifth busiest in the U.S. -- best known for its iconic mountain-inspired terminal roof last year.
Denver itself continues to grow, with U.S. Census estimating that the population of the metro area grew 1.5% year-over-year to 2.9 million in 2018, according to the latest available data.
The Denver airport is the third-busiest in Southwest’s network with 214 departures, airline data shows.
The airline’s new gate lease must now go to the Denver City Council for final approval.
Related: Denver airport will get the first of 3 new outdoor patios this year
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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