Denver International Airport is preparing for an influx of travelers as the holidays approach.

Airport officials say a high-tech new western security checkpoint could make the experience less stressful. There were significantly shorter and faster queues at the modernized checkpoint than at the main South Security checkpoint.

This may be your first time seeing DIA’s new security checkpoint

After more than two years of construction, the new west checkpoint at DIA was fully opened to the public in early February.

The new checkpoint is located on the sixth floor of the airport and is more efficient, said terminal operations manager Aubrey Ross.

The new checkpoint features 17 lanes for both TSA PreCheck and general travelers. For comparison, the airport’s main security checkpoint to the south in the Great Hall only has a handful of lanes.

Andrew Kenney/Denverite

With improved technology, the new checkpoints can each handle 250 people per hour, compared to 150 per hour at older checkpoints. Travelers can keep all of their belongings in their bags – even if they don’t have TSA PreCheck.

“No more running or pushing luggage into the X-ray machine. “You keep everything in your pocket,” Ross said. “You don’t have to take out your liquids or your computers. Everything stays there. So we save time on the so-called disposal side.”

However, West Security’s efficiency isn’t great – you’ll still have to take your shoes off (unless you actually have PreCheck).

Travelers should also be prepared to have their face photographed by an ID device at the checkpoint.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

It seems like the new design is working. Since the checkpoint opened in February, the average wait time has been about four minutes.

That’s significantly shorter than South Security’s average wait time of 11.5 minutes. But waiting times at the old checkpoint were also reduced by a few minutes compared to the previous year.

Ready for prime time?

Thanksgiving will be the first real test for West Checkpoint since it opened — and Ross expects it to be “100 percent” ready.

“We look at the (flight loads) and the number of passengers arriving at very specific times and are currently working on a plan for success,” she said.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Ross warned that West Security will be a new experience for some travelers. She advised first-time visitors to be prepared to follow instructions.

Another compromise: shorter working hours. West Security is closed every night from 7:30 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., while South Security only closes between 1 and 3 a.m

Further changes are coming:

This could be the last holiday season for the old South security checkpoint. It is expected to close around the third quarter of 2025 as the Great Hall construction project continues.

At the same time, the airport will open a new East security checkpoint, which will be identical to the new West checkpoint.

One more change: The somewhat secret bridge security service will cease regular operations on December 9th, so say your final goodbyes. Passengers can still travel between the Great Hall and Hall A via the bridge itself.

Hey, I went through security too quickly and now have 90 minutes to get to my gate!

“It’s all part of our plan,” Ross joked.

DIA has long rejected the idea that waiting at the airport is a bad thing.

In recent years, the airport has expanded its post-security services. In addition to the usual airport concession suspects, travelers can shop or eat at a variety of local establishments, such as Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs (which is expiring its airport lease after closing its main location earlier this year) and Breckenridge Brewery.

And just in time for the holidays, three Denver-based restaurants and cafes — Mister Oso, Bar Dough and Aviano Coffee — opened last week in Concourse C on the east side of the terminal.

If that’s not enough to get you in the holiday spirit, DIA has adopted the pop-up bar trend and opened a temporary holiday bar in Hall B.