Salt Lake City airport marks end of 12-year rebuild

Salt Lake City International Airport celebrated the completion of The New SLC redevelopment program on Saturday night, capping a 12-year construction effort that transformed the airport into a larger global hub. The final concourse section opens Oct. 27, bringing new gates, concessions and the last major piece of the $5.1 billion project online.

Why it matters: - The New SLC project replaces three aging terminals with a new central terminal and two linear concourses. - The final opening adds capacity for travelers and concessions as Salt Lake City International Airport positions itself as a larger hub. - The redevelopment spans 12 years and cost $5.1 billion.

What happened: - Salt Lake City International Airport marked the end of The New SLC Redevelopment Program on Saturday night with a “Gateway to the World” celebration. - Utah composer Kurt Bestor premiered the airport theme “Lux Altior,” or “Higher Light,” at the event. - The airport also unveiled “Crossroads to the World,” a suspended art installation made of about 2,500 colorful, laser-cut acrylic airplanes. - The Salt Lake Department of Airports broke ground on the project in June 2014. - Former and current Salt Lake City mayors, City Council members, airport executives, board members and the project’s construction director attended the celebration. - Speakers included Airport Executive Director Bill Wyatt, Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, Delta Air Lines State and Local Government Affairs Director Sara Gonzales and artist Gordon Huether. - Thirty-seven singers, including students from Salt Lake’s Madeleine Choir School, and 21 musicians performed at the event. - The program included a 15-minute vignette from a Salt Lake Airport documentary produced by Avalanche Studios.

The details: - The final section of Concourse B-east opens to the public on Oct. 27. - The addition is about 132,000 square feet. - The new section includes seven gates and six concessions. - United Airlines will use five of the gates. - Two gates will be common-use gates. - The concessions lineup includes Einstein Bros. Bagels, Monarca, Moochies Meatballs, Mr. Charlies Chicken Fingers, Swig and & Go SLC. - Nearly 25,000 craft workers contributed more than 18 million craft hours to the redevelopment. - Since the first phase opened in September 2020, The New SLC has won awards from Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and USA Today. - Airports Council International named SLC the Best Airport in North America in the large-hub category. - The New SLC opened in phases: Phase 1 in September 2020, Phase 2 in October 2023 and Phase 3 in October 2024. - Four gates opened in July 2026. - The full project includes 101 concessions and 94 aircraft gates. - The redevelopment program broke ground in July 2014. - The source text says the opening dates and construction milestones reflect the redevelopment program timeline.

Between the lines: - The celebration was designed to frame the airport rebuild as both an infrastructure project and a civic achievement. - The music, art and documentary elements underscore how Salt Lake City is branding the airport as a cultural gateway, not just a transportation facility. - The final phase suggests the airport is now shifting from construction management to long-term operations and passenger service.

What's next: - The remaining seven gates and six concessions open Oct. 27. - Travelers will begin using the last major section of Concourse B-east after the public opening. - The airport will move into full operation with the complete New SLC buildout in place.

The bottom line: - After 12 years of construction, Salt Lake City International Airport has reached the finish line on a $5.1 billion rebuild that adds scale, amenities and a more global identity to the airport.