Salt Lake City airport marks completion of $5.1 billion redevelopment

The 12-year project reaches its final milestone Oct. 27, when seven gates and six concessions open in Concourse B.

SALT LAKE CITY — Twelve years after breaking ground, Salt Lake City International Airport is marking the completion of its $5.1 billion redevelopment, with the final seven gates scheduled to open Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The Salt Lake City Department of Airports held a celebration Saturday, Oct. 24, to mark the completion of The New SLC Redevelopment Program. Phase 4, the project’s final phase, opens to passengers Oct. 27 with seven additional gates and six new concessions.

The project broke ground in July 2014. The first phase of the new airport opened in September 2020, followed by Phase 2 in 2023 and Phase 3 in 2024. Portions of the final phases continued opening in 2025 and 2026.

When the final gates open Tuesday, the airport will have 94 aircraft gates, four hardstand positions and 101 concessions, according to the Salt Lake City Department of Airports.

The seven new gates will primarily serve United Airlines. Two will be common-use gates that other airlines can use as needed.

Six concessions will also open Tuesday: Einstein Bros. Bagels, Moochie’s Cheesesteaks, Monarca, Mr. Charlie’s Chicken Fingers, Swig & Go SLC, a news and convenience store.

Airport officials say the redevelopment created the first new U.S. airline hub airport built in the 21st century.

How was the project paid for?

No local tax dollars funded the redevelopment, according to the Salt Lake City Department of Airports.

The department operates as an enterprise fund, meaning Salt Lake City’s general fund does not support airport operations.

The $5.1 billion project was financed through a combination of airport funds, passenger facility charges, rental-car customer facility charges, airport revenue bonds, and federal grants.

According to the airport’s project fact sheet, federal grants accounted for 4.5% of project funding.

What changed?

The redevelopment replaced Salt Lake City’s aging airport facilities with a new terminal, two linear concourses and two tunnels, along with a new parking garage, rental-car facilities and roadway improvements.

Airport officials say the completed facilities are designed to accommodate 34 million passengers annually.

The final opening comes six years after passengers first entered the new terminal in September 2020 and 12 years after construction began.

“It has been six years since we opened The New SLC and 12 years since we broke ground,” Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports, said in the airport’s July announcement.

Although the redevelopment program is reaching its end, the airport will continue other infrastructure work separately as it plans for future growth.

The airport’s final opening also comes just ahead of Utah’s ski season. Ski Utah says 10 resorts are within an hour of Salt Lake City International Airport, including Park City Mountain and Deer Valley. Park City Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 20, while Deer Valley is scheduled to open Dec. 5.