Attendees flying through Denver International Airport have a new security checkpoint to help speed up processes and make it easier as they make their way through one of the busiest airports in the world.
This new West Security Checkpoint is equipped with 17 screening lanes, which have advanced technology to create a more efficient process and hopefully a better overall experience for passengers as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents screen both them and their carry-on baggage. It will operate from 4 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily and is located on the northwest end of Level 6, adjacent to United’s ticketing and check-in lobby. Travelers being dropped off on Level 6 should look for doors 606 to 600, with TSA PreCheck access closest to doors 602 and 600.
According to the airport, the West Security Checkpoint will provide access at three separate entrances defined by the following traveler groups:
- West Security 1 (located behind the United ticketing and check-in lobby): This entrance is for standard screening passengers—the majority of passengers fall into this category.
- West Security 2 (located near door 606): This entrance is for Restricted Access, which consists of various groups including:
- DEN Reserve
- Premium/Premier Access
- Accessibility and Functional Needs
- Military
- West Security 3 (located near door 600): This entrance is for TSA PreCheck passengers as well as Clear customers with TSA PreCheck.
Denver International Airport notes that features of the new equipment include:
- The allowance of multiple passengers to place their items in bins simultaneously to help expedite the process
- Enhanced technology that allows passengers to leave items like liquids and laptops in their bags
- Automatic diversion of any carry-on bag that may contain a prohibited item, allowing other travelers’ belongings to continue through the screening process uninterrupted
- Automatic bin returns to the front of the line
- Larger bins, to fit more items and larger bags
Also, unique radio-frequency identification tags are attached to each bin, allowing for additional accountability of a traveler’s carry-on property as they move throughout the security screening process, and cameras that capture photographic images of the contents of each bin are linked side-by-side to the x-ray image of a carry-on bag’s contents.
A group gathered at the checkpoint ribbon-cutting in February, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, U.S. Congresswoman Diana DeGette, and TSA Deputy Executive Assistant Administrator for Security Operations Steve Lorincz.
“This checkpoint upgrade means the travel time for people coming through security will be faster, more efficient, and incredibly safe,” says Mayor Mike Johnston, in a prepared statement. “We are adding more and more international capacity to Denver.”
Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington added, “Next year, we will open another checkpoint of the same caliber on the east side of the terminal to serve our ever-increasing passenger traffic.”
