Roberta Aguirre
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States, covering a surface area of 53 or 135 square kilometres. It is also the second or third largest airport in the world. Denver Airport is much bigger than Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which is the seventh or eighth largest airport in the US. In 2021, Denver Airport handled 58.8 million passengers, while Chicago O'Hare International Airport handled 35.8 million passengers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Size | Denver Airport is bigger than Chicago Airport. Denver Airport covers 135 square kilometres, while Chicago Airport is the seventh-largest airport in the US. |
| Passenger Numbers | Denver Airport: 37.8 million passengers. Chicago Airport: 35.8 million passengers. |
| Number of Gates | Denver Airport: 163 gates. Chicago Airport: 91 gates. |
| Destinations | Denver Airport: 215 destinations. Chicago Airport: 228 destinations. |
| Year Opened | Denver Airport: 1995. Chicago Airport: 1940s. |
| Number of Airlines | Denver Airport: 23. Chicago Airport: N/A |
| Staff Numbers | Denver Airport: 35,000. Chicago Airport: N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Denver Airport is the largest in the US
Denver International Airport, often referred to as DEN or DIA by locals, is the largest airport in the United States by land area. It covers a surface area of 135 square kilometres or 52.4 square miles, making it more than double the size of the next largest US airport, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Denver Airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains, about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, Colorado. It is within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado plains. The airport features three outdoor decks with views of the mountains and plains, as well as an 82,000-square-foot outdoor plaza open to the public.
Denver International Airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. It has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, and three midfield concourses with a total of 148 gates. In 2021, the airport handled 58.8 million passengers, and in 2024, it set a record with 82,358,744 passengers served. The airport is also one of the biggest employers in Colorado, with over 35,000 employees, and it has been ranked among the top 20 busiest airports in the world every year since 2000.
Denver Airport's Runway 16R/34L is the longest public-use runway in North America, stretching 16,000 feet (3.03 miles or 4.88 km). The airport also has an A Line rail service connecting it to Denver Union Station and downtown Denver, with two intervening stations in Aurora.
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O'Hare Airport is smaller, covering 11.89 sq miles
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States, covering 52.4 to 53 square miles or 34,000 acres. It is also the second or third-largest airport in the world. The airport boasts six runways, one of which is the longest in the United States at 16,000 feet. With its vast size, Denver International Airport handles a high volume of passengers, with 58.8 million passengers in 2021.
In comparison, Chicago O'Hare International Airport is significantly smaller, covering 11.89 square miles or 7,627 acres. Despite its smaller size, O'Hare is one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, with 35.8 million passengers in 2021 and a yearly passenger traffic of nearly 74 million. The airport boasts a sprawling layout with numerous gates, providing seamless connectivity for travellers.
The difference in size between Denver International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport is quite remarkable. Denver's airport is more than four times the size of O'Hare, showcasing the former's expansive scale. This disparity in size, however, does not necessarily translate to a difference in passenger traffic, as both airports handle a substantial number of travellers each year.
While Denver's airport stands out for its sheer size, O'Hare holds its own as a bustling transportation hub. The smaller size of O'Hare relative to Denver's airport does not hinder its functionality or impact; instead, it efficiently serves a high volume of passengers and ensures smooth connections for travellers. O'Hare's efficient utilisation of its space highlights that while size is a factor in airport design, it is not the sole determinant of an airport's success or capacity.
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Denver Airport has 163 gates
Denver International Airport is the biggest airport in the United States, covering a surface area of 53 square miles or 135 square kilometres. It is also the third-largest airport in the world. Denver Airport is so big that it is more than double the size of the next largest US airport, Dallas/Fort Worth. The airport has three outdoor decks with views of the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado plains. There is also an 82,000-square-foot outdoor plaza that is open to the public.
Denver Airport is one of the few major US airports with room to expand its current facilities to accommodate future growth. It has the capacity for six additional runways, for a total of twelve. The airport also has efficient runway layouts, with six non-intersecting runways. One runway (16R/34L) is the longest commercial runway in North America at more than three miles long. Denver Airport is also one of the biggest employers in Colorado, with over 35,000 employees.
In terms of passenger numbers, Denver Airport handled 37.8 million passengers in 2021, making it the fourth busiest airport in the US. In comparison, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which is the seventh-largest airport in the US, handled 35.8 million passengers in 2021.
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Chicago O'Hare Airport is one of the world's busiest aviation hubs
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the United States, covering 135 square kilometres of land. However, Chicago O'Hare International Airport is one of the world's busiest aviation hubs. In 2023, O'Hare served almost 74 million passengers, a number that is expected to increase to 100 million when combined with the nearby Chicago–Midway International Airport.
O'Hare is considered the most connected airport in the US and the fifth most connected airport in the world. It is also the world's fourth busiest airport and 16th largest airport. The airport has non-stop flights to 249 destinations in North America, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the North Atlantic region.
O'Hare's eight runways were designed to allow takeoffs into the wind, but the intersecting runways were deemed dangerous and inefficient. The airport was originally built in the 1940s as a production plant for the Douglas C-54 and later evolved into Chicago's main airport. It was renamed Orchard Field Airport in the mid-1940s and then, in 1949, renamed after aviator Edward "Butch" O'Hare, the first US Navy recipient of the Medal of Honor in WWII.
O'Hare is a hub for United Airlines and American Airlines, with United operating almost half of all flights out of the airport. It is also a base for Spirit Airlines and an operating base for Frontier Airlines. The airport is accessible by road via the Kennedy Expressway, which goes directly into the airport, as well as by airport shuttle, bus, the Chicago "L", or taxi.
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Denver Airport is one of Colorado's biggest employers
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the world's busiest airline hubs, and Colorado's primary economic engine, generating $47.2 billion for the region annually. It is also one of the state's biggest employers, with an airport staff of over 35,000 employees.
DEN has been among the top 20 busiest airports in the world every year since 2000. In 2024, the airport welcomed a record-breaking 82.4 million passengers, a 5.8% increase over the previous year. This was an all-time passenger record for the airport, which has been one of the busiest in the United States due to its mid-continent location, which is ideal for an airline hub.
The airport operates on 53 square miles of land, which is larger than the city boundaries of Boston, Miami, or San Francisco. DEN is the largest airport in the United States and the third-largest in the world. The airport has more than 51,000 public parking spaces and approximately 300 lane miles of roads.
Denver International Airport's unique atmosphere is created by its award-winning architecture and magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains. The airport's internationally recognized peaked roof, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, is reflective of Colorado's history and the Rocky Mountains.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Denver International Airport is bigger than Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Covering a surface area of 135 square kilometres, it is the largest airport in the US and the third-largest in the world. In comparison, Chicago O'Hare Airport is the seventh-largest airport in the US.
Denver Airport handled 58.8 million passengers in 2021. In comparison, Chicago O'Hare Airport handled 35.8 million passengers in the same year.
Denver Airport currently has six runways but has plans to expand to 12.
Denver Airport's large size is mainly due to future-proofing and expansion purposes. The airport is located 24 miles from central Denver due to noise concerns and fears of limited expansion in the future.
