A $242 million complete renovation of the concourse and gate areas of the main terminal in Minneapolis-St. Paul is planned. Paul International Airport is attracting attention as it undergoes the largest interior renovation project since it opened in 1962.
Renovations to six of Terminal 1’s seven concourses are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025, and MSP-frequent travelers are expected to endure endless construction at the nation’s 19th busiest airport. I will continue.
But it’s all for a good reason, Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and Delta Air Lines officials said at a press conference Thursday.
“This is a huge milestone for the millions of people who use MSP to come here, to vacation, to do business,” said Brian Ricks, chief executive officer of MAC, which owns and operates the airport. Our aim is to provide passengers with an exceptional airport experience and help our economy thrive.”
The mere location of the event, Concourse F, seemed to emphasize the need for refreshment. Passengers heading to various Florida cities were crammed into a gate area with little lighting, and the shadows on the concourse carpet could be mercifully described as dingy. beige.
The plan calls for a unified, modern design for the concourses and approximately 75 Delta gates, consistent with improvements largely completed in the terminal’s ticketing area and baggage claim area, as well as in Concourse G. Masu.
This will result in terrazzo flooring in the passenger corridors of Concourses A, C, D and G, and new carpeting in Concourses B and F. New wall finishes are planned, including granite in the common hallways and tile in the Delta Gate area, as well as brighter walls. Gate seats with LED lighting, technology upgrades to flight and gate information screens, and more power outlets.
“These improvements will impact everything Delta passengers see and experience, from the security checkpoint to the gate,” Ricks said.
MAC is investing $182.5 million of its own funds in the entire project, with MSP’s flagship carrier Delta Air Lines contributing $60 million. No taxpayer funds are used. Expansion plans for Terminal 2, home to Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines, were not included in Thursday’s announcement.
Early reviews of the project were positive.
“MSP is one of the most efficient airports in the country, but some of its concourses could definitely use a little love with the times,” said Kyle, executive editor of Thrifty Traveler. Mr. Potter said. Website.
MAC and Delta Air Lines officials said Thursday they remain bullish on post-pandemic travel demand.
“It’s great news that travel demand remains very strong, especially as we prepare for the busy holiday season here,” said Janine Ashworth, vice president of airport operations for Delta Air Lines MSP. said.
The Atlanta-based airline will continue to add flights from Minnesota next year, including to Dublin, the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, Syracuse, New York and Cozumel, Mexico.
“With these new destinations and improved service, we will increase the number of seats from Minneapolis by 40% over the next few years,” Ashworth said. “That’s why the concourse and gate modernization project is so important. This is the latest example of Delta Air Lines’ continued commitment to modernize our terminals and improve the travel experience for our customers in Minneapolis.”
Officials said there will be little disruption to flight operations during the renovations, as much of the work will be done at night. Delta’s gates will remain open during construction.
The renovation will be analyzed in three phases and managed by Delta personnel. Construction on Concourses D and F will begin in October, and renovations on Concourse C will begin in February. Improvements to the Skyway Bridge connecting Concourses A, B, and G to Concourses C and G are scheduled for 2025.
The interior renovation spans 378,000 square feet and incorporates many of the design changes that MAC made during the expansion of the ticketing lobby and baggage claim area and the modernization of Concourse G between Gates G17 and G22. It will be done.
“Like many airports across the country that rushed through major infrastructure upgrades during the worst of the pandemic when travel was virtually non-existent, MSP naturally opted for a major expansion of the G Concourse,” Potter said. focused,” he said.
An $80 million expansion of the G Concourse in 2022 also created space for a third Delta Sky Club at MSP.
“There’s a brand new concession in that area, with more natural light, higher ceilings and new seating. If that’s the model for this project, travelers will have something to look forward to no matter which gate they’re in.” said Mr. Potter.
With Thursday’s announcement, MAC has invested more than $1 billion in “curb-to-gate” renovations since 2016.
This includes a $525 million project to expand the terminal by 30,000 square feet. Redesigned ticketing and baggage levels, including a new baggage carousel. Checkpoints have been consolidated and central elevators and escalators have been improved. The program is in its final stages, with construction work continuing on a new ticket counter and baggage system at the northern end of the terminal.
And next year, construction will continue on the G Concourse, with a $330 million plan to double the seating capacity at gates G8 to G13, install two new restrooms, and add space for concessions.
MAC is also investing $6.5 million to reconfigure gate and ramp space in Concourses B and C to accommodate Delta’s larger aircraft.