Richmond Airport receives funding for new consolidated security checkpoints

A view of the main walkway in Concourse B at RIC

The Richmond International Airport has received a 2.25 million dollar grant award through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s Airport Terminals Program, allowing the airport to consolidate the security checkpoints.

Why does the Richmond Airport need consolidated security screening checkpoints, and what is the current problem?

According to the Capital Region Airport Commission, the goal of the consolidated checkpoint is to "improve passenger flow and reduce congestion."

This increased traffic frequently causes a serious imbalance at the checkpoints, with long lines at one concourse and short lines at the other, particularly during peak hours. A large, consolidated checkpoint would eliminate this growing problem and provide greater screening capacity, a more reasonable distribution of resources, shorter lines, and improved access to the gates

Jennifer L. McClellan, Robert J. Wittman, Abigail Davis Spanberger

Support Letter for FAA Airport Terminal Program

When entering the main concourse area on the second level of the airport, you have two options: Turn left for Concourse A, or turn right for Concourse B.

Want to travel between both terminals after you get screened? You're out of luck. Both Concourses are currently isolated from each other, meaning passengers cannot travel between them if they want to try out different dining options, or if you're arriving in Richmond, isolated concourses mean screening again to catch your connecting flight in the other concourse.

Consolidating the two concourse checkpoints is a lot more efficient than two separate checkpoints, especially since the airport is breaking passenger records and reporting increased passenger traffic every month. Merging the checkpoints into one would simplify the travel experience for passengers flying out of Richmond, easing the confusion on which checkpoint lane to choose, and also could decrease wait times if capacity is increased.

Here is a quote from the support letter to the FAA:

We understand that RIC is also moving towards common-use gates, which will increase capacity and encourage competition. The new consolidated checkpoint will allow the two concourses to be connected, enabling the airlines to use common gates more efficiently as airline personnel and passengers will be able to move between the two concourses without having to be rescreened.

Jennifer L. McClellan, Robert J. Wittman, Abigail Davis Spanberger Support Letter for FAA Airport Terminal Program

One big benefit of consolidating the concourses is the increase in dining options and merchandise options for all passengers. Passengers will no longer be limited to the food offerings in their concourse and can venture to the other one to try out their offerings. For example, passengers who typically fly out of Concourse B aren't able to experience "The Market on Broad" in Concourse A, and flyers typically going through Concourse A haven't dined at Cheeburger Cheeburger do to the isolation of the concourses. Although the design is not known yet, this consolidation could mean that the Applebee's, Ironclad Coffee, and Hudson News in the main atrium could be the new center point for both concourses. This means that the Ironclad Coffee and Hudson News in both Concourse A and B could be consolidated to where the atrium locations are, freeing up locations in both concourses for new dining options (this is purely speculation).

Another benefit of this consolidation is that it will make the experience of arriving passengers connecting through Richmond a lot easier, especially if connecting to an international flight (in Concourse B). For example, arriving in Concourse A and connecting to a flight in Concourse B would currently require you to exit Concourse A, and go through screening to get into Concourse B, possibly adding 15-30 minutes onto to your connection. The consolidated checkpoints will eliminate this, allowing for a seamless walk between terminals giving you more time to relax or grab a bite to eat.

All in all, this is a great change that will greatly improve the passenger experience at the airport. The estimated start time of this project is unknown, nor is the estimated completion date.