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Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major airline hub in the United States, located about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, Colorado. It is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second-largest on Earth. The airport boasts a wide range of shops and restaurants, efficient transportation options, and an extensive public art collection. With over 40,000 employees, DEN is the largest employer in Colorado and has consistently ranked among the top airports worldwide in customer surveys.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Denver International Airport |
| Acronym | DEN |
| Location | 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver |
| Ranking | 4th best regional airport in the world |
| Area | 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2) |
| Runway length | 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km) |
| Ranking by area | Largest airport in the Western Hemisphere; second largest in the world |
| Ranking by passenger traffic | 3rd busiest airport in the world in 2021 and 2022; 6th busiest in 2023 |
| Ranking by passenger traffic in the US | 3rd busiest airport in 2021, 2022 and 2023 |
| Number of employees | 40,000+ |
| Art | Rotating exhibitions inspired by Colorado; four murals by Leo Tanguma; a statue of Jack Swigert by George Lundeen; a sculpture by George Lundeen, "The Aviator" |
| Amenities | Shops, restaurants, free Wi-Fi, free cell phone waiting lot |
| Transport | A Line rail service between DEN and Denver Union Station; airport express bus service called skyRide; RTD route 104L to Thornton; RTD route 145X to Brighton; RTD route 169L to Aurora; van services to Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado |
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What You'll Learn
Denver International Airport (DEN) is a major airline hub
The airport is located 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver and is within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. It is connected to the city by the A Line rail service, which operates between DEN and Denver Union Station in downtown Denver, taking approximately 37 minutes. DEN is also accessible via the Peña Boulevard freeway, which connects to I-70 and Denver. The airport offers a variety of shops, restaurants, and amenities, including local favourites and popular national brands.
As part of its commitment to meeting the needs of travellers, DEN has undertaken several initiatives to enhance the travel experience and make the terminal more welcoming and efficient. This includes the Great Hall Program, which involves renovating the Jeppesen Terminal to add more check-in and TSA counters, as well as new concourses with 100 gates. The terminal's distinctive roof design, resembling snow-capped mountains, is a nod to Colorado's cultural history.
Denver International Airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The airport has a vast international reach, with nonstop flights to destinations such as Istanbul, Rome, Dublin, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Zurich, and beyond. DEN was ranked as the third busiest airport in the world in 2021 and 2022 by passenger traffic, serving around 77.8 million passengers in 2023 and setting a new record in 2024 with 82,358,744 passengers.
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DEN has a large collection of public art
Denver International Airport (DEN) is located 25 miles (about 40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, in Colorado. Covering 52.4 square miles (or 135.7 square km), it is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere in terms of land area. It is also the second-largest airport in the world by the same metric. DEN is a major airline hub in the United States, serving as a major hub for United Airlines, and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
DEN is recognised internationally for its extensive public art collection and Colorado-inspired rotating exhibitions. The Denver public art program, financed by a mandatory 1% capital improvement budget, has resulted in a significant number of artworks. The airport features a bronze statue of Denver native Jack Swigert by Loveland, Colorado artist George Lundeen in Concourse B. Swigert, who flew on Apollo 13 as Command Module Pilot and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, is depicted wearing an A7L pressure suit and holding a gold-plated helmet. George Lundeen is also the sculptor of another statue at the airport, "The Aviator", a monumental bronze sculpture of Elrey Borge Jeppesen, for whom the terminal is named.
Additionally, Denver International Airport has four murals by Chicano artist Leo Tanguma. "Children of the World Dream of Peace" is a two-part mural; the first part depicts the horrors of war, with a man in a gas mask and brandishing a saber, while the second, larger part shows this man having been toppled, and smiling children from various nations making swords into plowshares. This is a reference to the Book of Isaiah 2:4.
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The airport is easily accessible by rail
Denver International Airport (DEN) is easily accessible by rail. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and is the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. With over 40,000 employees, it is the largest employer in Colorado. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the A Line rail service between DEN and Denver Union Station in downtown Denver. The trip takes around 37 minutes, and the service runs approximately every 15 minutes. This convenient rail service provides easy access to the airport for passengers travelling to and from downtown Denver.
In addition to the A Line, RTD also operates an airport express bus service called skyRide, which connects Arapahoe County or Boulder to DEN. For those travelling to Thornton, RTD route 104L offers an hourly bus service. The airport is also served by commuter routes with a limited number of runs per day, including RTD route 145X to Brighton and 169L to Aurora.
Denver International Airport has been recognised for its efficiency and convenience, consistently receiving top honours from publications like Business Traveler Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. The airport provides a range of amenities, including shops, restaurants, and free Wi-Fi access throughout, ensuring a pleasant travel experience for its passengers.
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DEN has a range of shops and restaurants
Denver International Airport (DEN) is the primary airport serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, as well as the greater Front Range Urban Corridor. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, having served around 77.8 million passengers in 2023, and is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area.
The airport features a bronze statue of Denver native Jack Swigert by Loveland, Colorado artist George Lundeen in Concourse B. Denver International Airport has four murals by the Chicano artist Leo Tanguma, including "Children of the World Dream of Peace", which is in two parts. The first part depicts the horrors of war, and the second, larger part shows smiling children from many nations making swords into plowshares.
DEN's shops include clothing, perfumery, electronics, toys, travel accessories, gifts and souvenirs, jewellery, convenience, duty-free, news, and books. The airport also offers coffee bars and luxury shopping centres.
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It is one of the largest airports in the world by land area
Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world by land area. It covers a surface of 52.4 square kilometres (33 square miles or 13,250 acres), which is roughly the size of Manhattan. To put it into perspective, the second-largest airport in the US, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, spans 69.6 square kilometres or 17,200 acres. For comparison, the world's largest airport, King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, covers an area of 780 square kilometres (301 square miles).
Denver International Airport's vast land area is due, in part, to its unique design. The airport has a distinctive tented roof, designed by renowned architect Peña, which covers all three of its concourses. This roof is meant to resemble the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, which can be seen in the distance. The airport's layout is also very spread out, with a single, large terminal and three concourses, which are connected by an automated underground transit system. This design was chosen to accommodate future expansion and to provide a more efficient and flexible layout for aircraft operations.
The airport's location also contributed to its large size. Denver International Airport is located on the eastern plains, where the land is flat and vast. This allowed for the airport to be built on a large scale without the constraints of more mountainous or urbanised areas. The airport is located 23 miles from downtown Denver, which is relatively far when compared to other major airports. This distance provides ample space for the airport's expansive layout and future growth.
Denver International Airport's size has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, the airport has plenty of room for expansion and can accommodate a large number of passengers and flights. The airport is a major hub for several airlines, including United Airlines, and is the fifth-busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic. The large area also allows for efficient aircraft operations, with plenty of space for runways, taxiways, and other infrastructure.
On the other hand, the airport's size can make it feel quite spread out and empty in places. The distance from the city centre can also be seen as a disadvantage, as it increases travel time to and from the airport. However, the airport has a comprehensive ground transportation system, including a direct rail connection to Denver Union Station, which helps to mitigate this issue. Overall, Denver International Airport's size is a significant feature that contributes to its efficiency, capacity, and unique design.
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Frequently asked questions
The name of the airport in Denver, Colorado, is Denver International Airport (DEN).
The airport is 25 miles (about 40km) driving distance from downtown Denver.
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the A Line rail service between the airport and Denver Union Station in downtown Denver. The trip takes around 37 minutes and runs about every 15 minutes. RTD also operates an airport express bus service called skyRide between Arapahoe County or Boulder and the airport.
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