Owais Crawford
The Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and the Denver International Airport are two of the largest airports in the United States. Covering 69.63km² (26.9 square miles) between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, the Dallas airport is the third busiest airport in the world, serving over 80 million passengers in 2023. On the other hand, the Denver International Airport covers 135km² (53 square miles) and is the largest airport in the US and North America. It is also the third busiest airport in the country. So, in terms of size, the Denver airport is bigger than the Dallas airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dallas Airport World Ranking | 5th busiest airport in the world |
| Denver Airport World Ranking | 3rd largest airport in the world |
| Dallas Airport Ranking in the US | 2nd largest airport in the US |
| Denver Airport Ranking in the US | Largest airport in the US |
| Dallas Airport Ranking in Texas | 5th largest airport in Texas |
| Denver Airport Ranking in Colorado | One of the biggest employers in Colorado |
| Dallas Airport Passenger Handling | 70 million passengers annually |
| Denver Airport Passenger Handling | 58.8 million passengers in 2021 |
| Dallas Airport Cargo Handling | 901,908 tons of cargo in 2022 |
| Dallas Airport Terminals | 5 |
| Denver Airport Terminals | 3 |
| Dallas Airport Gates | 191 |
| Denver Airport Gates | 163 |
| Dallas Airport Destinations | 260 international destinations |
| Denver Airport Destinations | 215 destinations |
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What You'll Learn
Dallas Airport is smaller but handles more passengers
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is significantly smaller than Denver International Airport (DIA). However, it handles a larger number of passengers annually. Covering a surface area of 69.63 square kilometres (26.9 square miles), DFW is the 12th busiest airport in the world, serving about 70 million passengers each year. In contrast, DIA covers 135 square kilometres (53 square miles) and handled 58.8 million passengers in 2021.
DFW is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas. It has five terminal buildings, named A to E, with 174 gates in total. The airport is the third busiest in the world, serving over 80 million passengers in 2023. The five terminals are connected by the 7.74-kilometre (4.8-mile) Skylink automated people mover system. The airport also has plans to accommodate the future Terminal F, which is set to open in 2025.
DIA, located in Denver, is the largest airport in the US and North America by area. It is also the third busiest airport in the US. The airport has 163 gates, divided into three areas, and 23 airlines operate from it, flying to about 215 destinations. In 2022, over 69 million passengers went through DIA, and the airport expects this number to reach 100 million annually by 2027.
Despite their differences in size and passenger numbers, both airports are major hubs for international travel and are among the largest and busiest airports in the world.
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Denver Airport is the largest in the US
Denver International Airport (DEN), also known as DIA by locals, is the largest airport in the US. Covering 135 square kilometres or 52.4 square miles, it is more than double the size of the next largest US airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. DEN is also the second or third largest airport in the world, behind King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia.
Denver Airport is located 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver, and it is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area. The airport has six runways, including the longest public-use runway in North America, Runway 16R/34L, which is 16,000 feet (3.03 miles or 4.88 km) long. There is enough space around the airport to accommodate another six runways if needed.
Denver Airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. It is also one of the biggest employers in Colorado, with over 35,000 employees, and it served around 77.8 million passengers in 2023. In 2024, the airport set a new record, serving 82,358,744 passengers.
The airport has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, and three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates in operation as of early 2025. The Jeppesen Terminal is named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, and it features a unique design. The concourses are spaced far apart, and Concourse A can be accessed via a pedestrian bridge or an underground train system from the terminal building. For Concourses B and C, passengers must use the train.
Denver Airport offers stunning views of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado plains from its three outdoor decks, and it also has an 82,000-square-foot outdoor plaza open to travellers and the general public. The airport has undergone various expansion and renovation projects over the years, including the addition of a Westin hotel in 2015 and a capacity expansion project in 2022 that added 39 new gates.
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Dallas Airport is the 5th busiest airport in the world
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is the 5th largest airport in the United States and the 12th busiest airport in the world, serving about 70 million passengers annually. Covering 69.63km² (26.9 square miles) between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, the airport has five terminal buildings with 174 gates in total. The five terminals, named A-E, are linked with the 7.74km (4.8-mile) Skylink automated people mover system.
In comparison, Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the USA and North America by area, spanning 135.69km² (52.4 square miles). It is also the third busiest airport in the US. However, in terms of passenger traffic, Denver International Airport is barely in the top 20 worldwide, ranking 18th.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's five terminals serve a total of 260 international destinations. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and American Airlines. The Terminal Renewal and Improvement Programme (TRIP) was carried out to restructure and modernise facilities and make the airport suitable for passenger requirements over the next 50 years. Work on the project was completed in 2018.
Denver International Airport, on the other hand, has big plans for the future, including adding a new terminal and 100 gates to accommodate growing traffic. The airport currently has 163 available gates, divided into three areas, with 23 airlines operating flights to about 215 destinations. The airport's long-term goals include growing from six to 12 runways.
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Denver Airport is the 3rd largest airport in the world
Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major hub for international travel and the third busiest airport in the US. It covers 53 square miles (34,000 acres or 135 square kilometres) of land, making it the biggest airport in the United States and the third-largest in the world. DEN is Colorado's primary source of economic growth, generating $47.2 billion in annual revenue for the state. The airport is a major employer in the state, with over 40,000 employees.
The airport is located 25 miles (40 km) northeast of downtown Denver and is closer to the City of Aurora, where many airport-related services are located. DEN has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, which covers 2.6 million square feet. The terminal is named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen and has a 240,000-square-foot tent roof, large enough to cover four football fields. The airport also has three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates in operation as of early 2025.
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States due to its central location, ideal for an airline hub. DEN served 25 different airlines in 2018, offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations worldwide. In 2022, 69.3 million passengers passed through, making it the third-busiest airport in the world during the pandemic. In 2024, DEN set a new record, serving 82.4 million passengers, a 5.8% increase over the previous year.
The airport has plenty of room to expand its facilities to accommodate growing traffic. In fact, DIA's long-term goals include expanding from six to 12 runways. The airport's expansive property is so large that it could fit the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles, and
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, while much smaller than Denver Airport, handles a higher volume of passengers. With 70 million passengers annually, it is the 12th busiest airport in the world.
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Dallas Airport has more terminals and gates
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the largest airports in the United States, covering 69.63km² (26.9 square miles) between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas. The airport has five terminal buildings, named A-E, with 174 gates in total. The terminals are linked with the 7.74km (4.8-mile) Skylink automated people mover system.
DFW is also one of the busiest airports in the world, serving over 80 million passengers in 2023. The airport is so large that it can accommodate a huge shopping mall called Founder's Plaza, featuring over 30 shops and eateries. In addition to the mall, the airport boasts a total of 248 concession stands, 131 restaurants and bars, 11 lounges, and a total of 103 retail shops. The number of shops, restaurants, and other amenities at the airport has generated $38 billion in payroll and 634,000 jobs.
In comparison, Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in the United States, spanning 135.69km² (52.4 square miles). Despite being larger in terms of area, DEN has fewer terminals and gates than DFW. DEN has three terminal buildings with 163 available gates, serving about 215 destinations. The airport handled 58.8 million passengers in 2021, making it the second-largest airport in the world in terms of passenger volume.
While DEN takes the top spot in terms of size, DFW's five terminals and 174 gates make it a close competitor. The large number of terminals and gates at DFW contributes to its high passenger volume and bustling atmosphere. With ongoing expansion and improvement projects, DFW is constantly evolving to accommodate even more passengers and destinations.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is smaller than Denver International Airport.
Denver International Airport covers 135 square kilometres or 52.4 square miles.
Denver International Airport has six runways, with one of them being 16,000 feet long, the longest in the United States for public use.
Denver Airport handled 58.8 million passengers in 2021.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has 174 gates in total.
