Still, a separate forecast built by InterVISTAS Consulting for DIA, based on the airlinesвЂ™ pre-pandemic plans shows the airfield could reach even that higher capacity even before 2027. вЂњWe think weвЂ™re right in the sweet spot in terms of timing for the seventh runway,вЂќ Washington said. Projections for aircraft movements now indicate the six-runway airfield will reach capacity by 2027 - a year before the project schedule calls for the new runwayвЂ™s completion.Д«ut Bill Poole, DIAвЂ™s senior vice president of planning and design, said a planned new taxiway would make airplane movements more efficient, boosting the current configurationвЂ™s capacity enough to last up to five more years. He added, вЂњI hate to see the trains crowded.вЂќДЄs for DIAвЂ™s plan to build a seventh runway, which is now in the environmental review phase and hasnвЂ™t received a formal green light from federal officials, officials hope to eke out more breathing room that would avert planes backing up on taxiways. вЂњWe were disappointed with the delay as far as the supply chains on the train cars that are coming in.вЂќ

вЂњOne of the things I would say is we still have a lot of work to do,вЂќ CEO Phil Washington said in an interview. But more significant train capacity, including platform modifications to allow the running of longer trains, wonвЂ™t come until the end of the decade. That plan is aimed at accommodating 100 million passengers a year within the next decade - or even sooner, as looks likely based on growing travel to and from Denver as well as expanding connections through DIA.Д«ut they acknowledge that may mean trains linking the terminal with DIAвЂ™s three concourses will get more crowded at peak times than theyвЂ™d prefer, potentially beyond the 50-person capacity per car that they base their calculations on.ДЄ small capacity boost is coming next year when batches of brand new train cars are set to arrive, more than two years behind schedule, enabling the running of an extra train at peak times. ItвЂ™s based on growth projections that are more conservative than those shared with DIAвЂ™s planning consultant by the airlines.ДIA leaders express confidence that theyвЂ™ll keep up with the growth, no matter how fast it comes, as part of initiatives theyвЂ™re working out under the airportвЂ™s вЂњVision 100вЂќ strategic plan. While the airport has set plans in motion to increase the trainвЂ™s capacity, the timing is potentially tight. By 2025, United Airlines aims to increase its schedule out of Denver by more than 50%, ramping up to nearly 700 departures on an average day.

The aggressive growth plans include a nearly 20% increase in daily departures by Southwest Airlines by this fall, and likely much more in coming years. Larger, long-overdue security checkpoints will begin opening by early 2024 as part of its drawn-out $2.1 billion terminal renovation.Д«ut other pinch points could get worse if the airlines stick to their plans - especially on the underground concourse train system and on DIAвЂ™s runways, The Denver Post found in a review of airport-commissioned passenger and air traffic forecasts, planning documents and statements by major airlines. The opening of nearly three dozen new gates at Denver International Airport this year has its two largest carriers plotting rapid expansions that will test the busy airportвЂ™s ability to process millions more passengers and get them to their flights.ДIA has billions of dollars worth of projects underway to accommodate that growth on some fronts. Digital Replica Edition Home Page Close Menu

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