Flights To Shift To New Gates Beginning At 0400 Local

After more than three years of planning, design and construction, the Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) is set to open its new North Terminal at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) on Wednesday, September 17.

Beginning at 0400 EDT, all Detroit flights operated by Air Canada, American Airlines, AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, USA 3000 and all charter airlines will arrive at and depart from the new North Terminal.

At the same time, the airport's Smith and Berry terminals will be retired as passenger facilities -- officially making DTW one of the newest, most operationally-capable, most customer-friendly and most efficient airports in North America.

"The Airport Authority is excited to open this latest addition to Metro Detroit's premier global gateway on time and on budget," said WCAA CEO Lester Robinson. "While transitions always present challenges, the Airport Authority and its airline partners have planned a well-choreographed move to the new facility and expect to welcome Metro Detroit travelers into a new era for air travel for our region come Wednesday."

The new North Terminal is located on the site of the former Davey Terminal, between the existing Smith and Berry Terminals. The North Terminal is connected to the Big Blue Deck parking structure by a covered walkway accessible from Level 4 of the parking structure.

Motorists dropping-off or picking-up passengers at the North Terminal should follow the same path as they would to access the Smith Terminal. In fact, Smith Terminal customers have been using the new North Terminal roadways for the past several months while the new terminal has been under construction. Signs posted along inbound Rogell Drive will direct motorists to the correct roadway for departures and arrivals traffic.

The new North Terminal is located directly across from the airport's Big Blue Deck parking structure. A new, covered walkway accessible via Level 4 of the Big Blue Deck provides direct access to the North Terminal.

Customers planning to travel through the new North Terminal are encouraged to visit the Airport's Web site (at the FMI link below) starting on Tuesday afternoon, for detailed maps and information regarding the new North Terminal.

FMI: www.metroairport.com