Baltimore/Washington Worldwide Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is prepared and keen if Southwest Airways finalizes its much-hinted-at plan for airport lounges.
That was the message from Maryland Aviation Administration Govt Director Shannetta Griffin as she stood within the light-filled central atrium of BWI’s new connector, which provides a brand new — and extra spacious — hyperlink between concourses A and B.
If Southwest does determine so as to add a community lounge, because the provider has hinted at, BWI has the area for it.
“We’re definitely hoping for [a Southwest lounge], and in case you might speak to Mr. Jordan, I’d respect it,” she mentioned, referring to Southwest CEO Bob Jordan.
Jordan has hinted repeatedly over the previous 12 months that the airline might add lounges, a first-class product and even long-haul worldwide flying. On lounges, he instructed CNBC earlier in December that Southwest was “actively pursuing” the thought.
BWI is Southwest’s third-largest base by each seats and departures, and its largest within the jap U.S., schedule knowledge from aviation analytics agency Cirium reveals. And, whereas the airline is within the midst of probably the most dramatic adjustments in its historical past, the airport stays a essential dot on its route map and one that would grow to be much more necessary if it decides to launch transatlantic flights sooner or later.
As for that $500 million A-B Connector, which BWI claims is its largest venture ever, it is going to enhance the expertise for Southwest flyers.
It provides 142,000 sq. ft inside safety, reclaiming area from 5 gates to open up a direct route on a single stage between concourses A and B. Beforehand, passengers needed to stroll again to the primary terminal space after which climb as much as and traverse the meals courtroom when connecting between the concourses. It was all “airside” — or previous safety — however was a little bit of a circuitous journey for passengers.
Put one other method, vacationers connecting between concourses A and B adopted one thing of a “U” formed path. The brand new connector hyperlinks the 2 ends of the U.
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day e-newsletter
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
By signing up, you’ll obtain newsletters and promotional content material and conform to our Phrases of Use and acknowledge the info practices in our Privateness Coverage. You could unsubscribe at any time.
The 5 gates that the brand new area changed have been pushed out to the west and rebuilt in step with each concourses A and B, a single facility BWI opened for Southwest in 2005 for $264 million, or $440 million in right this moment’s {dollars}.
BWI opened a $48 million five-gate extension of Concourse A for Southwest in 2021.
“Southwest appreciates the management from the Maryland Aviation Administration and the State of Maryland to carry the airport’s largest capital venture to this point to fruition,” a Southwest spokesperson mentioned. “The A/B Connector venture will enhance the passenger expertise and permit us to serve much more prospects with our unmatched hospitality and reliability.”
The spokesperson declined to touch upon whether or not Southwest was contemplating BWI for a lounge.
“We’ve got gotten a dedication from Southwest that we’ll proceed to be their largest East Coast — they usually don’t essentially use the phrase ‘hub,'” mentioned Griffin, looking for the suitable phrase for the airline’s giant base at BWI. “However their East Coast supplier.”
Southwest carried 71% of the 26.1 million vacationers who handed by means of BWI through the 12 months ending in September, the airport’s newest visitors knowledge reveals.
The spotlight of the brand new connector is the central atrium, the place a glass ceiling covers an open area out to the gate areas. Whereas not solely column-free, it’s an expansive vista that’s uncommon at BWI, an airport higher recognized for its low prices and performance than gorgeous structure. The area will characteristic retailers of native concessions by subsequent summer time, airport officers mentioned.
“When individuals come into the airport, that is the primary place they arrive and the final place they see once they come again from their travels,” mentioned Griffin. “Ensuring our passengers are protected, they’re comfy [and] then they’ve this open area now that may be very totally different from anything they’ll see within the airport.”
And, simply to ensure vacationers know they’re in Maryland, three ducts spanning the whole thing of the brand new glass atrium are wrapped within the state’s flag.
There’s a lot to love in regards to the new connector: Flooring-to-ceiling home windows give vacationers an expansive view of the runways past. The restrooms are in line with BWI’s award-winning customary. And the jet bridges are partially glass, a rarity at U.S. airports.
Beneath the brand new connector is a brand new baggage processing system that may deal with as much as 3,200 luggage an hour for Southwest, mentioned the airport’s venture supervisor, Robert Kleinman. The present system can solely course of 2,100 luggage an hour.
