Denver International Airport (DEN) has selected a consortium led by Ferrovial Airports to enter into exclusive negotiations for a public-private partnership (P3) to make much needed improvements to the airport’s Jeppesen Terminal.
Over the next six to eight weeks, the airport will engage in negotiations with Ferrovial to define the terms and scope of work for the initial phase of the project, called pre-development. If an agreement is reached, the contract for the pre-development phase of work will then be presented to the Denver City Council for approval in August. If the pre-development phase contract is approved, it would lead to approximately six months of additional negotiations to further refine the scope of work, design, financial terms and schedule for a potential long-term P3. At the end of the pre-development phase, the airport and city will make a decision whether to proceed with the P3.
The Jeppesen Terminal revival aims to embrace a new, modern airport experience through three main areas of improvement: consolidating the airline ticket counters and consolidating and relocating the TSA screening areas to level six; modifying the baggage handling system in and under the terminal to support the relocated ticket counters; and redesigning the shopping, dining and overall passenger experiences available in the terminal.
To achieve this vision, DEN is pursuing a P3 model that seeks the creativity, expertise and capital from the private sector to help reimagine the layout and use of the terminal. At the same time, DEN is working closely and collaboratively with the TSA to design an innovative new security screening prototype that is more efficient and passenger friendly and could someday become a model for other US airports. DEN plans to move forward with the airline ticket counter and TSA screening relocation regardless of whether an agreement is reached on the public-private partnership.
