The initial phase of the Durango-La Plata County Airport (DRO) terminal development project is now open to the public. The new construction includes one boarding gate and seating area being occupied by United Airlines, new and expanded public restrooms, and new food and beverage concessions.
A ribbon cutting ceremony held April 10 was attended by members of the Durango City Council, Southern Ute Tribal Council, United Airlines, and the Airport Advisory Commission. The event marked the substantial completion of a $7 million Phase 1A project focusing on the added airline boarding gate, new public restrooms, and new food and beverage concessions. With the initial phase complete and open, construction crews will now begin work on two new family restrooms and a nursing mothers room, with these projected to be complete by mid-summer. The project also relocates electrical and data utilities, upgrades an emergency generator, and serves as a critical enabling project ahead of a larger Phase 1B construction project planned to break ground in late summer or early fall 2024.
Construction throughout the duration of the overall project will be phased to ensure that airport and airline operations are uninterrupted.
"We are very excited to open Phase 1A of our terminal development project to the traveling public,” said Aviation Director Tony Vicari. “As a gateway and first impression to Durango, Southwest Colorado, and the entire Four Corners region, DRO must provide appropriately sized and modern infrastructure to support the growing demand for air service in our community. Passenger traffic at DRO has more than doubled over the past 20 years, and the terminal facilities are feeling the pressure of this growth.”
Following a record-setting 2023, when DRO welcomed over 430,000 total airline passengers, 2024 traffic has continued to grow. Through March, passenger traffic is up a sharp 15% year-over-year. In addition to the overall increase in traffic, DRO is also seeing its airline partners utilize additional larger aircraft to serve the growing market. With two daily flights on 126-150 seat aircraft, augmenting 7-9 daily flights on 50-76 seat regional jet aircraft, daily peak traffic periods continue to expand.
"The terminal development project is intended to help DRO grow along with a quickly evolving airline industry and a growing region,” said Vicari. “As demand for air service in our community increases, we must ensure that our regional airport can accommodate a larger airline fleet while also meeting the needs and expectations of our passengers.”
The terminal development program at DRO is being funded through a mix of airport revenues and available federal and state infrastructure grants. No City of Durango or La Plata County tax revenues are being utilized.
