AIRPORT REVIEW Denver International Airport
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International ( ZRH ), Seoul ’ s Incheon ( ICN ), and Singapore Changi ( SIN ).
To compete with these top airports , Denver began investing in passenger amenities . It put millions of dollars into faster Wi- Fi systems , recruited stores and restaurants , and added 10,000 electrical changing outlets . Studies have shown that a happy airport passenger spends more money , which has been the case in Denver . As passengers have spent more money , the airport has reduced airline charges — making it a great market for airlines to serve .
DEN now has a rail line that runs to downtown , a trip of just 37 minutes , and an on-site luxury Westin hotel . During the summer , the airport operates a free 18-hole minigolf course and , in the winter , a free popup skating rink . There is also a public plaza modeled after that of Germany ’ s Munich International Airport ( MUC ).
This was just the start . The airport is now looking to cement itself as one of the leading ones in the postpandemic world . It has started the Great Hall Project , which will improve security wait times , a major thorn in its side , and has undertaken a massive gate expansion .
ACHILLES HEEL
Over the past five years , selfservice and the segregation of passengers into groups based on elite status , credit cards , mobility needs , and fares have become increasingly common throughout the US . But innovation has lagged behind for Transportation Security Administration ( TSA ) screening . Not much can be said about creating the TSA checkpoint of the future . second-biggest carrier , behind United ( UA ), boosting overall airport volume . Frontier Airlines ( F9 ), based in Denver , adds lowfare options for travelers . Half of the airport ’ s traffic is for business travel , while the other half is for leisure — an excellent balance for any airport . Only 41 % of passengers make connections in Denver , whereas 59 % begin or end their trip there ( as of June 2023 ).
Running an airport is more than providing gates and terminals for airlines . In 2011 , DEN ’ s management shifted its focus from airlines to passenger experience . The move has paid off . Instead of taking other US airports for reference , Denver began measuring itself against the world ’ s best — such as Zurich
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