New concourse opens at Salt Lake City International Airport

Oct 27, 2020, 9:52 AM | Updated: 9:57 am

FILE: The Southwest check-in area at Salt Lake City International Airport. Four passengers on a Southwest flight to Salt Lake suffered injuries from rough air in flight. PHOTO: John Wojcik

BY JOHN WOJCIK

Former Reporter

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Six weeks after the first flight took off from the new Salt Lake City International Airport, another concourse is adding 21 additional gates.

Brand-new concourse

Early Tuesday morning, Concourse B officially opened to the public. It will house Alaska, American, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, United and some Delta gates.

The newest concourse is accessible from Concourse A via a 990-foot tunnel that was built back in 2004. Four large murals have been painted in the tunnel that represent Utah’s four seasons.

Almost to Concourse B!! Good thing I wore flats!! @slcairport @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/w8iFLe5FbN

— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaKSL) October 27, 2020

Concourse B will have additional concessions, including three new restaurants (Gourmandise: Euro Diner and Bakery, Uinta Brewing Company, Wasatch Brew Pub) and five new shops (@ease, InMotion, Liberty Park Market, Hip & Humble, Maverik, The Salt Lake Tribune).

According to airport officials, additional restaurants and shops will follow as passenger numbers increase, including Pick Up Stix, Smashburger, Briggs & Riley, Utah! and XpresSpa.

“Today is like icing on the cake,” said Bill Wyatt, Salt Lake Department of Airports, executive director. “It’s been six weeks since the successful opening of the new SLC and today we welcome all of our airline partners to their new home in Concourse B, which completes Phase I of the project.”

First flight out

Southwest Airlines first flight departed from the new concourse at 7:10 A.M. Tuesday and headed for Oakland.

The first flight from Concourse B just left from @slcairport #KSLTV pic.twitter.com/pvgLctsDio

— Derek Petersen (@Derek_Photog) October 27, 2020

Southwest Airlines will be the second-largest carrier at Salt Lake City International Airport with around 17 daily flights to 12 destinations.

Good morning from @slcairport! ✈️Today is the grand opening of Concourse B, which has 20 gates and serves a number of airlines. @SouthwestAir will be the second largest carrier at SLC International with around 17 daily flights to 12 destinations. pic.twitter.com/BCcznmm5Ya

— John Wojcik (@JWojcikKSL) October 27, 2020

“One of the things about this region is it’s such a high leisure and outdoor activity market,” explained Steve Sisneros, managing director of Airport Affairs with Southwest Airlines. “What we’re finding, is that many people are looking for those options to get out and do something.”

With Phase I of the new Salt Lake City Airport complete, demolition is already underway on the old airport to begin building the next phase.

Phase II will include building out Concourse A to the east and construction of a permanent tunnel to transport passengers between concourses A and B. This is expected to be completed by late 2024.