New United gates in Denver herald big capacity boost

United Airlines says a deal to lease an additional 24 gates at Denver International Airport will see the number of flights at the hub grow as much as 40 percent by 2025. The deal, signed by United chief executive Oscar Munoz and Denver Mayor B. Hancock on February 7, paves the way for United’s plan to grow its Denver hub from 500 daily flights to as many as 700 by 2025. See new images of the 777X's massive composite wings. United currently serves 170 airports worldwide from Denver, which is also home to the airline’s flight training center and 7000 staff. The additional gates are a combination of newly constructed and existing gates, and part of Denver’s  $US1.5 billion concourse expansion program. They will be located in Concourse A and B and will see an expansion of existing United Clubs as well as a new club in concourse A. The ambitious program, announced in 2018, will see the mile-high airport add 39 new boarding gates for a 30 percent increase in capacity from the then 111 gates. The new gates are coming online sequentially, with the last of them scheduled to be up and running by 2021. The Denver City Council unanimously approved an amendment to United's lease on January 21 to allow it the 24 additional gates. "United Airlines is a vital partner for Denver International Airport, and we're proud they are continuing to invest and grow right here in Denver," said Mayor Hancock. "As United increases daily flights and continues to add new routes, they are creating economic opportunities that benefit our entire community." United has been steadily growing its Denver operations, adding more than 100 flights and 40 new destinations in the past five years. The successful introduction in 2018 of its Denver-London route saw it quickly move from a seasonal operation to daily year-round flights. It is also moving to bigger Boeing 787-9 aircraft on flights from the city to London, Frankfurt and Tokyo from June. United’s Munoz said the additional gates would take the starring role Denver plays in the airline’s growth strategy to a new level. “It will mean more seats, more connections and more destinations as Denver continues to extend the global reach of its businesses and communities,’’ he said. “This growth complements the investments we make in key infrastructure, such as the Western Hemisphere's largest flight training center at DEN, and in local communities; because Denver is not just a hub, it feels like home for so many of us in the United family." The airline says its growing domestic and international flight offerings have also created thousands of additional connection opportunities for customers traveling through Denver.