Lois Larson
Denver International Airport (DEN) has been recognised for its ability to handle snow and ice removal, receiving the prestigious Balchen/Post award. With an average seasonal snowfall of 55 inches per year, DEN has a snow-removal programme that uses cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain efficient airfield functionality. While airport closures are rare, heavy snowfall can cause delays and cancellations, with one snowstorm in April 2025 causing over 1,300 flight delays and cancellations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Snow management | DEN Operations and Maintenance snow-fighting team |
| Snow-fighting team experience | Over 25 years |
| Awards | Winner of the Balchen/Post award for outstanding snow and ice removal operations |
| Snow-removal equipment | Over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment, multifunction machinery that can plough, sweep, blow snow, and spread liquid and sand products |
| Snow-removal program | Cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment |
| Snow tolerance | Seasonal average of 55 inches of snow per year |
| Snow closures | Rare, but brief closures or delays may occur in case of a blizzard |
| Snow delays | An April 2025 snowstorm delayed or canceled more than 1,300 flights, with an average delay of 3 hours and 18 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Denver International Airport's snow-fighting team
Denver International Airport (DEN) has a dedicated snow-fighting team as part of its Operations and Maintenance division. The airport has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years and has a robust snow plan in place, which has been developed based on lessons learned from past blizzards and snowy winters.
The snow plan includes prioritised snow-removal areas and equipment routes, revised staffing plans, and upgraded equipment. DEN utilises over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment, including multi-function machinery that can plough, sweep, and blow snow, and some can also spread liquid and sand products simultaneously. The runway teams consist of a multifunction combination, plus dedicated brooms, blowers, chemical trucks, and sanders. During a snow event, the snow teams are divided across the east and west airfields, with the east airfield runways generally used for arrivals and the west airfield runways for departures.
The runway teams are organised to move down the runway in a single pass, from edge to edge, with crews moving in formation. This formation consists of multifunctional equipment and dedicated brooms and blowers, followed by chemical trucks, sanders, and finally, a friction measurement vehicle. In addition to the runway teams, DEN is also responsible for clearing 300 lane miles of roads and 30 acres of parking lots, totalling 44,255 parking spaces.
The airport's response to snowy conditions has been recognised with the prestigious Balchen/Post award, which acknowledges airports for outstanding snow and ice removal operations and maintaining airport operations during challenging winter conditions. While Denver International Airport has a comprehensive snow plan and dedicated resources to handle snowfall, heavy snowstorms can still cause delays or cancellations. For example, an April 2025 snowstorm in Colorado delayed or cancelled close to 1,000 flights at DEN, with arriving flights delayed by an average of 3 hours and 18 minutes.
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Snow removal equipment
Denver International Airport (DEN) has a comprehensive snow removal programme that uses a blend of cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain efficient and safe airfield functionality. The airport has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years and has been recognised with awards for its outstanding snow and ice removal operations.
The snow removal equipment at DEN includes over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment, including multi-function machinery that can plough, sweep and blow snow, and some can spread liquid and sand products simultaneously. The airport also utilises dedicated brooms, blowers, chemical trucks, and sanders.
DEN's snow removal team consists of nearly 600 trained personnel who work in crews to move in formation across the runways and taxiways. The crews consist of multifunctional equipment and dedicated brooms and blowers, followed by chemical trucks and sanders. Finally, a friction measurement vehicle assesses the runway conditions.
Additionally, DEN has one of the most comprehensive deicing fluid collection and recycling systems in the world. Aircraft Deicing Fluid (ADF) is made up of propylene glycol blended with water and additives, effectively removing ice and snow from aircraft before departure. DEN also uses a product called Apex, similar to magnesium chloride, to treat landside pavement, and potassium acetate for runway and taxiway surfaces.
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Snow removal strategies
Denver International Airport (DEN) has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years, and its snow-removal programme is considered one of the best in the world. The airport has a seasonal average of 55 inches of snow per year and has even remained operational during blizzards. Here are some of the strategies that DEN employs for efficient snow removal:
Snow-Fighting Team
The airport has a dedicated Operations and Maintenance snow-fighting team that is well-trained and equipped to handle snow removal. The team consists of nearly 600 trained personnel who are deployed at the start of snowfall and work around the clock until the job is done.
Snow Removal Equipment
DEN utilizes a large fleet of snow-removal equipment, including over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment and 275 pieces of equipment for landside parking. This equipment includes multifunction machinery that can plough, sweep, and blow snow, as well as spread liquid and sand products simultaneously. The airport also has melters that can melt up to 600 tons of snow per hour, treating landside pavement with a product similar to magnesium chloride.
Strategic Planning
The airport's snow removal strategy is based on forecasted weather conditions, with operational and staffing levels adjusted accordingly. They utilize a customized version of de-icing manager software, which uses sensors to predict the best time for aircraft to push back from the gate and estimate the time required.
Runway Teams
During snowfall, runway teams are divided across the east and west airfields, with dedicated brooms, blowers, chemical trucks, and sanders. Crews move in formation, ensuring efficient and comprehensive snow removal.
FAA Communication
Following the 2006 blizzards, DEN added a "snowman" position in the FAA control tower to orchestrate runway closures and streamline communication between the snow removal team and the FAA. This has improved trust and collaboration between airport operations and the FAA.
Continuous Improvement
DEN continuously evaluates and upgrades its snow removal programme, learning from past experiences and investing in new technology and equipment. The maintenance team plays a pivotal role in selecting machinery, ensuring the fleet is well-maintained and prepared for diverse situations.
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Snow's impact on flight schedules
Denver International Airport (DEN) has a seasonal average of 55 inches of snow per year, and snow has impacted its operations since its opening day in February 1995. While the airport rarely closes due to snow, it has happened at least once, during back-to-back blizzards in December 2006. On this occasion, 20 inches of snow fell, and the airport was forced to close for two days as aircraft, vehicles, and support equipment were unable to operate safely.
DEN has a snow-removal programme that uses advanced technology and equipment to maintain efficient and safe airfield functionality. The programme has been finetuned over 25 years and continues to be evaluated and improved. DEN utilises over 200 pieces of airside snow-removal equipment, including multifunction machinery that can plough, sweep, and blow snow, and spread liquid and sand products.
During a snow event, snow teams are divided across the east and west airfields, with east airfield runways generally used for arrivals and west airfield runways for departures. Crews move in formation, consisting of multifunctional equipment, brooms, and blowers, followed by chemical trucks, sanders, and a friction measurement vehicle.
Despite these measures, heavy snowfall can still impact flight schedules. For example, an April snowstorm in 2025 delayed or canceled more than 1,300 flights at Denver International Airport, with arriving flights delayed by an average of 3 hours and 18 minutes.
Overall, while Denver International Airport is well-equipped to handle snow and maintain operations, heavy snowfall can cause delays and cancellations, impacting the flight schedules of thousands of passengers.
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Denver's geographical location and snowfall
Denver, Colorado, is located at 39°43'35" North, 104°57'56" West (39.726287, −104.965486) in the Colorado Front Range region. The Southern Rocky Mountains lie to the west of Denver, and the High Plains lie to the east. The city has a total area of 401.3 square kilometres (154.9 square miles), of which 397.2 square kilometres (153.4 square miles) is land, and the remaining 4.1 square kilometres (1.6 square miles) is water. The total area is 1.03% water.
Denver has a semi-arid climate with very low humidity and around 3,100 hours of sunshine per year. The weather in Denver is influenced by the proximity of the Rocky Mountains to the west. The climate is generally mild compared to the mountains to the west and the plains further east, but it can be moderately unpredictable.
Denver experiences snowfall, with measurable amounts falling in the city. The first snowfall of the season usually occurs in October, and the last snowfall lands in April or May. Denver is typically free of snow every year during June, July, and August. About half of the days with snowfall in Denver leave just a skiff, amounting to less than an inch of fresh snow on the ground. On average, there are 16 days a year when the amount of new snow totals at least an inch. Snowstorms of over five inches a day typically occur a couple of times a year, and major blizzards that dump ten inches or more in one day are rare events.
Denver International Airport (DEN), located in Denver, has a seasonal average of 55 inches of snow per year. The airport's large size presents logistical challenges when clearing the surface area of snow. DEN has a snow-removal programme that has been fine-tuned over the years, incorporating lessons learned from past blizzards and snowy winters. The programme utilises a blend of cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain efficient and safe airfield functionality.
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Frequently asked questions
Denver International Airport (DEN) has a snow-removal programme that uses cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art equipment to maintain efficient airfield functionality. The airport's Operations and Maintenance snow-fighting team has been refining its response to snow for over 25 years. During a snow event, snow teams are divided across the east and west airfields, with the former used for arrivals and the latter for departures.
Yes, Denver Airport was closed for two days in December 2006 due to back-to-back blizzards that dropped 20 inches of snow. Aircraft, vehicles, and support equipment were unable to operate safely in the whiteout and blizzard conditions.
Yes, an April 2025 snowstorm delayed or canceled more than 1,000 flights at Denver International Airport. The airport was placed under a traffic management program for snow and ice, delaying arriving flights by an average of three hours and 18 minutes.
