Denver International Airport (DEN) announces that it has now hit the fifty percent completion mark of the new East Security Checkpoint this week. The East Security Checkpoint, scheduled to open in Q3 of 2025, will mirror the West Security Checkpoint on Level 6 and provide another 17 screening lanes with new state-of-the-art technology.
“Reaching the halfway point of the East Security Checkpoint buildout is an important milestone in this monumental program that renovates the Terminal. We are currently tracking ahead of schedule and under budget,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “Having two state-of-the-art checkpoints will provide a safer, more efficient and modern experience at DEN.”
Once the East Security Checkpoint opens, passengers who are screened at the East or West Security Checkpoints can take the train to the gates or they will also be able to walk to Concourse A if that is a more convenient option. Bridge Security will be permanently closed at this time as passengers will have already passed through security. The final configuration will also provide for four new elevators and additional escalators to take passengers from Level 6 (where the checkpoints are located) to the train to the gates on Level 4.
“From the beginning, the Great Hall Program has been about enhancing safety and security by moving the security checkpoints from Level 5 to Level 6 while also serving our ever-increasing passenger traffic better, and more efficiently,” Washington continued. “Six months into the West Checkpoint being open, we can say with confidence that we have improved the passenger experience and made our security operations safer and more efficient. The completion of the East Security Checkpoint will further enhance our security screening process and improve the passenger journey.”
Since the West Security Checkpoint opened in February of this year, DEN has seen a significant improvement in customer satisfaction related to the security screening experience increasing from a 3.98 in Q1 to a 4.18 in Q2 out of 5. DEN now ranks second in customer satisfaction for waiting time at security when compared to other participating large airports according to Airport Service Quality surveys.
The Great Hall Program is one of DEN’s capital improvement projects that will help the airport prepare for the future by enhancing security, improving operational efficiency and increasing capacity of the Jeppesen Terminal. The Program consists of three phases: the first two phases were completed within the original $770 million budget and focused on building a new ticketing/check-in space for some of DEN’s airlines and constructed the West Security Checkpoint on Level 6. The third and final phase of the project constructs the East Checkpoint and modernizes Level 5 and 6 outside of the Federal Inspection Services area and the south end of the terminal.
