‘Packed to Capacity’: Travelers Annoyed by Extended Delays Just to Reach Their Airport Departure Gates

Passengers at Denver International Airport faced significant disruptions and chaos due to technical issues affecting the underground trains connecting gates. The airport, one of the busiest in the United States, experienced delays and large crowds as the trains were running at limited capacity.

According to airport spokesperson Ashley Forest, a technical problem occurred on Tuesday morning, leading to the reduced capacity of the underground trains. In response, the airport implemented buses to transport passengers from the main terminal to the concourses. Travelers flying out of Concourse A were advised to use the security checkpoint and walk across the bridge to reach their gates.

To manage the situation, the airport recommended that passengers arrive 30 minutes earlier than planned. Despite these efforts, frustrated passengers reported waiting for up to an hour to reach their gates.

Chris Pino, a traveler flying to Williston, North Dakota, described his experience at the airport. After going through the North Security checkpoint, which is the only one for TSA Precheck and Clear Plus flyers, Pino encountered a significant crowd in the hallway leading to the trains. He mentioned that there were “thousands of passengers” trying to access a single train.

Pino noted that the trains were arriving on only one side of the platform, causing congestion. He mentioned an incident where a train arrived on the other side, prompting a stampede of passengers to that side. The waiting time was nearly an hour, and Pino described the conditions as sweltering due to the large number of people in a confined space. Once on the train, he reported that it was “jammed to the max.”

According to Pino, there was no information provided about the issue, and if he had been informed, he would have chosen a different security checkpoint to walk to his gate.

As of Tuesday evening, engineers were actively working to address the technical problem. However, there were no estimates for when the trains would return to normal capacity. The airport anticipated that the technical issue would impact operations for the remainder of the day.

The disruption at Denver International Airport highlighted the challenges and frustrations faced by passengers when critical airport infrastructure experiences technical difficulties. The incident prompted concerns about the need for effective communication and contingency plans to minimize disruptions during such situations.

Travelers urged airports to prioritize passenger communication, provide real-time updates, and implement efficient alternative transportation methods when technical issues affect essential services like airport trains. The impact of such disruptions extends beyond inconvenience to travelers, affecting overall airport operations and potentially causing delays and missed connections.