Construction to Occur During Nighttime Hours
Construction to expand the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport’s secure boarding area by 50% gets underway this week. The project, which will be conducted during nighttime hours through mid-January, is the airport’s temporary answer to overcrowding in the area where passengers already screened by TSA must wait for their flights.
The work is not expected to interfere with travelers arriving and departing during the busy holiday season, and the end result is expected to improve the traveler experience until a new terminal is constructed.
“Our secure boarding area is often filled to capacity during the busy holiday season,” said Airport Director, John Kinney. “The last thing we want to have to do is close the secure boarding area to ticketed passengers to comply with the fire code and risk them missing their flights. “This is our temporary solution to that growing problem,” Kinney said.
The expansion will include the current cafe and gift shop areas, which will no longer be accessible to un-ticketed customers. It will give security-screened travelers access to the full-service restaurant, an additional restroom and the gift shop.
In baggage claim a food cart offering snacks, pre-made sandwiches and variety of beverages will be located should there be delays.
“We appreciate the public’s patience during construction and believe the overall traveling experience to and from our airport will be improved with this expansion,” Kinney said.
Design concepts for a new terminal will be discussed at the December 8th Board of County Commissioner’s meeting.