Lindbergh Terminal: 2020

The Lindbergh Terminal has been the airport’s primary terminal since it opened in 1962. Under the 2020 Vision Plan, all non-SkyTeam member airlines would be relocated to the Humphrey Terminal around 2010 or 2011. The Lindbergh Terminal would become a terminal exclusive to Northwest Airlines and its airline partners Continental and Delta.

Improvements are scheduled in advance of the terminal moves to modernize the terminal and to allow for future growth. Once the non-SkyTeam airlines relocate, their ticketing counters, office space, baggage handling systems and gate areas would be converted so they can be used by SkyTeam airlines.

The terminal can be expanded to accommodate more growth once traffic warrants. An extension to the terminal could be built as early as 2012.

Phase I Expansion & Improvements

Airlines not a part of the SkyTeam Airline Alliance are anticipated move to the Humphrey Terminal around 2010 or 2011. Airlines remaining at the Lindbergh Terminal (Continental, Delta and Northwest) would then move into the ticketing areas abandoned by the non-SkyTeam airlines.

Gates and other spaces currently occupied by non-SkyTeam airlines would be refitted for use by SkyTeam airlines. Twelve gate areas and their jet bridges would be converted on the Concourses C and E. Airline operations areas located on the ground floor, underneath the concourse, would be converted as well. In the main terminal area, baggage claim and ticketing areas would be refitted and reequipped for the use of Northwest, Continental and Delta.

With increasing passenger numbers there is increased congestion on both the upper and lower roadways where passengers are dropped off and picked up. On the upper roads ways there is much more traffic using the westside roadway, which fronts the Lindbergh Terminal, than the eastside roadway which borders the parking ramps.

To help alleviate congestion, the MAC would like to move some of the traffic from the westside to the eastside. To do accomplish this, a project to built a baggage belt to the east roadway has been proposed. This would allow luggage to be dropped off at skycabs on the eastside while passengers use the skyways or underground tunnel to reach the terminal.

Phase II Expansion & Improvements

Under the Vision 2020 Plan, the Lindbergh Terminal can be expanded with minimal disruption once demand warrants. Around the year 2012 or 2013, a new 15 gate concourse could be constructed at the end of Concourse G.

The new concourse, Concourse H, would provide extra gate space for narrow-body aircraft (such as A320s and B757s). Northwest Airlines relies heavily on narrow-body aircraft for flights to/from Twin Cities Intl. and their use is expected to grow with traffic in upcoming years.

Near the intersection of Concourse G and the new Concourse H a new NWA World Club would be built.

An automated people mover would be built for access to Concourse H. The new people mover, which would be the airport’s third, would start at the beginning of Concourse G and would run down the roof of the terminal. There would be a stop at the beginning of Concourse G, the beginning of Concourse H and at the end of Concourse H.

The last two gates at the end of Concourse G would have to be removed to make way for the new concourse. In addition, some Northwest Airlines maintenance facilities would have to be demolished. Northwest Airlines’ Building B is currently located on part of the site for the future Concourse H. Building B is a collection of hangars and buildings used by Northwest Airlines for aircraft maintenance. It is currently unknown where or if they would be relocated elsewhere on the field once demolished.

Meanwhile, two narrow-body gates would be taken out on Concourse C to make room for four regional jet gates. That would bring the total number of regional airline gates at the Lindbergh Terminal to 46 (13 on Concourse A, 16 on Concourse B and 17 on Concourse C).

Lindbergh Terminal Phase III

As growth at the Lindbergh Terminal continues, Phase III could be implemented. Airport traffic forecasts estimate demand would warrant the Phase III expansion sometime between 2015 and 2020. This phase would construct a 10 gate extension to Concourse H (expanding it to a total of 25 gates).

Ramp space of the end of Concourse H would be used as a de-icing pad to replace the current 30L de-icing pad. The last remnant of the current NWA Building B complex would be the employee parking lot at the extreme southeast of the airfield.

On Concourse C, additional gates would be converted to regional gates. Nine regular size narrow-body gates on Concourse C would be converted into 18 regional jet gates. This would bring the total count of regional gates to 55 at the Lindbergh Terminal.

Proposed Hotel at the Lindbergh Terminal

A part of the Vision 2020 Plan, but independent from airport funds, is a hotel and conference center. Plans propose a 400-room hotel with a 25,000-sq. ft. conference center facility. It could be built at any time after Phase I, whenever economically justified. The hotel would be built at the site of the present-day transit center. The site for the hotel would be created by consolidating the parking cashier lanes (increased automation requires fewer cashier lanes).

A hotel on site could be a great asset for travelers because it would be directly connected to the airport terminal via the Concourse Connector Skyway. It would also be directly adjacent to the light-rail station, making it convenient and easy to travel to downtown Minneapolis or the Mall of America.

Graphics on this page were produced by Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport 20/20 Vision proposal written by ARUP Consulting.

Content originally written and published by Timothy Hannan.