Denver's Airport: A Single Hub For Mile-High City

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the only international airport in Colorado. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving as a hub for international travel and covering more land than any other airport in the country. In addition to DEN, there are several other commercial airports in the Denver area, including Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport and Centennial Airport. Buckley Air Force Base can also accommodate large commercial planes but does not handle regular passenger traffic. With its high volume of passenger traffic and expansive grounds, DEN has become a major economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating billions of dollars for the region each year.

Denver International Airport is the only international airport in Colorado

Denver International Airport (DEN) is the only international airport in Colorado. It is located 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver and is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area. With a total area of 53 square miles or 34,000 acres, it is nearly twice the size of the city of Boulder and bigger than the cities of Greeley and Grand Junction. The airport is also larger than the US cities of Boston, San Francisco, and Long Beach, California, and is nearly the size of Washington, D.C.

Denver International Airport is a major hub for air travel, serving as a gateway to Colorado for tens of thousands of people each day. It offers direct flights to numerous domestic and international destinations and is a hub for several major airlines, including Frontier, Southwest, and United. The airport has a single terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, which covers 2.6 million square feet and features a distinctive tent roof that covers an area of 240,000 square feet.

The airport provides convenient access to downtown Denver, with a 23-mile rail line connecting the airport to Denver Union Station in approximately 37 minutes. It also offers various ground transportation options, including taxis, limousines, hotel shuttles, and rental car services. Denver International Airport has won numerous awards and accolades, including being named the "Best Large Airport" in the 2021 USA Today Readers' Choice Awards.

It's one of the busiest airports in the world

Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2021 and 2022, it was the third busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic. In 2023, it was the sixth busiest airport in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers, a 12% increase from the previous year.

The airport has been among the top 20 busiest airports in the world every year since 2000. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. It is also the largest employer in Colorado, with over 40,000 employees.

The airport's convenient midcontinent location makes it an ideal airline hub. It serves 25 different airlines, offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations worldwide. It is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

To accommodate growing traffic, DEN has undergone several expansion projects, including the addition of new gates, security checkpoints, and airlines. The airport has plans for further expansion, with the goal of serving over 125 million passengers annually by 2045.

The airport covers a vast area of 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2), making it the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest in the world by land area. The main terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, spans 2.6 million square feet and features a unique peaked roof design that resembles snow-capped mountains.

With its high passenger traffic and extensive expansion plans, Denver International Airport solidifies its position as one of the busiest airports in the world.

The airport covers 53 square miles of land

The airport in question is, of course, Denver International Airport, often referred to as DIA, which at 53 square miles is indeed vast. To put this into context, this single airport facility is larger in area than the entire city of Boston, which covers 48.4 square miles. The airport's 53 square miles include not just runways and terminals but also a significant amount of undeveloped land, much of which is dedicated to wildlife conservation. In fact, DIA is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including coyotes, deer, and even foxes, which roam the grasslands and wetlands that make up much of the airport's property.

The enormous size of the airport is due in part to its unique design. With its distinctive tented roof, the airport's Jeppesen Terminal is instantly recognizable, and at 515,000 square feet, it is certainly large. But the terminal is just one building, and it is surrounded by vast expanses of land. The airport has six runways, each a mile long, and these are spaced widely apart to accommodate safe take-offs and landings and to account for the region's frequent high winds.

Another factor contributing to the airport's size is the room needed for future expansion. When DIA was constructed, it was designed with the capacity to grow and develop over time. The original blueprints included plans for a potential second terminal and additional runways, ensuring that the airport could expand to meet the demands of increased air traffic in the future. This forward-thinking approach to airport design meant that a large amount of land was required from the outset.

The layout of the airport also reflects a commitment to efficiency and functionality. With its dedicated parking facilities, access roads, and other infrastructure, DIA is designed to streamline the movement of passengers and aircraft. The expansive land area allows for efficient taxiways and aprons, ensuring smooth ground operations and reducing delays for departing and arriving flights. Furthermore, the airport's distance from the city center, about 23 miles, meant that there was ample room for this significant infrastructure project.

The airport is 25 miles from Downtown Denver

Denver International Airport (DEN) is located 25 miles northeast of Downtown Denver. The airport is one of the busiest in the world, serving as a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. With its vast expanse of 33,531 acres, it stands as the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere and the second largest globally. Its runway, stretching 3.03 miles, is the seventh longest worldwide.

The airport's distance from the city centre may pose a slight inconvenience for travellers, but a well-developed transportation system efficiently connects the two. The A Line rail service offers a direct route between the airport and Denver Union Station, with trains departing every 15 minutes during peak hours and taking approximately 37 minutes to cover the distance. For those who prefer a more private mode of transport, taxis and ride-sharing services like Lyft and Uber are readily available at the airport.

Despite being farther from the city centre than its predecessor, Stapleton International Airport, Denver International Airport's location has its advantages. The airport is strategically positioned on the western edge of the Great Plains, offering breathtaking views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. This location also contributes to Denver's reputation as a busy airline hub, as its midcontinent position is ideal for connecting flights.

Denver International Airport is more than just a transportation hub; it's a destination in itself. The airport boasts an extensive public art collection, including works by renowned artists such as Leo Tanguma and Luis Jiménez. The unique design of the Jeppesen Terminal, resembling snow-capped mountains, is an architectural marvel. The terminal's 2.6 million square feet of space houses a variety of dining and shopping options, ensuring travellers have a pleasant and convenient experience.

The airport has ground transportation options

Denver International Airport (DEN) has a wide range of ground transportation options for travellers to choose from. The airport is connected to I-70 and Denver via Peña Boulevard. Car rental companies provide courtesy shuttle services from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 4, to their parking areas.

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the A Line rail service between DEN and Denver Union Station in downtown Denver. The 37-minute trip is available approximately every 15 minutes. RTD also operates the airport express bus service, skyRide, between Arapahoe County or Boulder and DEN. Additionally, RTD runs four bus routes from the DEN Transit Center: AA, AB, AT, 145X, and 169L. The airport is also served by two commuter routes: RTD route 145X to Brighton and 169L to Aurora.

Taxis and cabs are available at Level 5, Island 1, outside Doors 505, 507, and 511 (Terminal East) and Doors 506, 510, and 512 (Terminal West). Limousines and sedans can be found at Level 5, Island 2, outside Door 511 (east side) and Door 506 (west side).

Many Denver hotels provide free shuttle services to and from DEN, which can be found at Level 5, Island 3. Over 10 major rental car companies operate from the airport, with shuttles picking up and dropping off from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 4, outside Doors 505–513 (east side) and 504–512 (west side).

Shared-ride airport shuttles and ride-share services like Lyft and Uber can be found at Level 5, Island 5. For Avail, a peer-to-peer car-sharing service, travellers can use the free USAirport Parking shuttle at Level 5, Island 3.

Frequently asked questions