Rethinking Terminal Efficiency
Airline passengers spend just as much time waiting for their flight to take off as they do in flight, and oftentimes more, so it’s no surprise that elements to optimize efficiency and passenger satisfaction are being incorporated into airport terminals.
“Ten or so years ago, people disliked going to the airport, but with new retail and dining options and personalized offerings, travelers now look forward to spending time at the airport,” Roberts says. “It has become somewhat of a destination, and we want to improve that entire experience for the passenger.”
One pandemic-induced trend involves rethinking and restructuring how hold rooms and queuing areas in the terminal and adjoining concourses are designed. The new $4 billion Delta Air Lines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport (LGA) features a headhouse — a terminal’s central entry point — that consists of four levels separating arrivals, ticketing, the TSA checkpoint and Delta Sky Club.
Burns & McDonell served as engineer of record on the terminal project, which became operational in 2022.
“Passengers that don’t need to check a bag or see an agent at ticketing can bypass Level 2 and go directly to the TSA check-in point on Level 3,” says Regan Teel, a Burns & McDonnell project manager on the Delta Terminal C project. “We focused on efficient design for passenger flow, which helps travelers navigate through the terminal and get to their gates quicker.”
Delta Terminal C also has higher ceilings and is a much brighter space with colorful artwork and digital signage to help passengers navigate to their gates, provide travelers airport updates, and steer them toward shopping and dining options.