Roberta Aguirre
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the world's busiest airports, generating $47.2 billion for the state of Colorado annually. Since its opening in 1995, the airport has continued to expand, with ongoing construction on the Great Hall Program. The airport has faced challenges such as flight delays due to adverse weather conditions and wildlife encounters. With its award-winning architecture, DEN offers magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains and provides a unique travel experience for passengers from around the globe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opening Date | 28 February 1995 |
| Number of passengers in 2022 | 69.3 million |
| Ranking in 2022 | Third busiest airport in the world |
| Area | 53 square miles (34,000 acres or 137.8 square kilometers) |
| Economic impact | $47.2 billion generated for Colorado annually |
| Delays | Delays due to snow and ice management |
| Wildlife encounters | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
- Denver International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports
- A United Airlines plane returned to the airport after a possible wildlife collision
- The airport is undergoing construction as part of the Great Hall Program
- Denver Airport was impacted by a spring storm
- Denver International Airport is twice the size of Manhattan
Denver International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports
Denver International Airport, also known as DEN, is one of the world's busiest airports. In 2022, 69.3 million passengers passed through, making it the third busiest airport worldwide during the global pandemic. DEN has been one of the world's busiest airports since it opened in 1995. The airport operates on 53 square miles (34,000 acres or 137.8 square kilometres) of land. This means that the airport is larger than the city boundaries of Boston, Miami, or San Francisco. In terms of land area, the airports of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles International, and Dallas Fort Worth could all fit inside DEN's property.
DEN is the primary economic driver for the state of Colorado, generating over $47.2 billion for the region annually. The airport's award-winning architecture and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains provide a unique atmosphere for travellers. The internationally recognised peaked roof of the Jeppesen Terminal, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, reflects the snow-capped mountains and evokes Colorado's early history, when Native American teepees dotted the Great Plains.
The airport has plenty of room to expand its current facilities and accommodate future growth. Construction is currently underway on the Great Hall Program, with 24 airline check-in and bag drop counters being temporarily relocated until mid-2027. Improvement and repair work is also scheduled for the West Garage and West Economy areas, starting in April 2024.
Denver International Airport has been in the news for various reasons over the years. In 2025, a United Airlines plane returned to the airport due to an apparent wildlife encounter during takeoff, believed to be with a rabbit. The same year, hundreds of flights were delayed due to a spring storm.
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A United Airlines plane returned to the airport after a possible wildlife collision
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the world's busiest airports. In 2022, 69.3 million passengers passed through, making it the third busiest airport globally during the pandemic. The airport operates on 53 square miles of land, twice the size of Manhattan.
On April 13, 2025, a United Airlines plane returned to Denver after a possible wildlife collision. The Boeing 737-800 was en route from Denver, Colorado, to Edmonton, Canada, carrying 153 passengers and six crew members. The flight crew reported a "possible wildlife strike" and the plane returned safely to Denver around 8:05 p.m. local time.
Footage and photos of the plane in the air showed bright flashes and flames coming from one of the engines, indicating a possible bird strike. One passenger described hearing a "rhythmic 'bang bang' and a whirl and a 'bang bang'" coming from the right side of the plane. Wyatt McCurry, who saw the flames from the ground, said, "My stomach dropped and I just thought, 'I'm going to see a plane go down.'"
It is unclear what type of wildlife was hit, but some outlets reported it may have been a rabbit. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which keeps a Wildlife Strike Database, is investigating the incident. Wildlife strikes are fairly common, with over 20,000 reported in the US last year, including four rabbit strikes.
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The airport is undergoing construction as part of the Great Hall Program
The Denver International Airport (DEN) is currently undergoing construction as part of the Great Hall Program, which aims to update the airport's infrastructure to meet the needs of today's aviation and prepare for future growth. With a significant increase in passenger numbers since its opening in 1995, the airport has initiated this project to enhance safety and security, improve operational efficiency, and increase capacity.
Phase 1 of the Great Hall Program, completed in October 2021, focused on renovating the middle portion of the Jeppesen Terminal. This phase included the deployment of new hybrid check-in pods, streamlining the baggage/check-in process and providing a more intuitive and open passenger experience. Additionally, two new coffee concessions were introduced on Level 6 in the check-in area.
Phase 2, scheduled for completion in February 2024, will streamline security by constructing a state-of-the-art TSA checkpoint on Level 6 in the northwest quadrant of the Jeppesen Terminal. This phase will also see the addition of eight new security lanes on Level 5, enhancing the experience for international travelers and further increasing capacity.
The Great Hall Completion Phase, approved by the Denver City Council in January 2022, will introduce a second security checkpoint on the northeast side of Level 6, enabling the relocation of the existing checkpoints and allowing for more screening lanes, resulting in a capacity increase of over 60%. This phase will also deliver modern and spacious ticketing spaces, accommodating future airline expansion and changing needs.
The Great Hall Program is a crucial initiative for DEN, ensuring the airport can effectively manage the growing number of passengers and maintain its position as one of the world's busiest airports. The project is expected to remain within the original $770 million budget for the first two phases, and DEN is committed to encouraging the participation of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) in the construction process.
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Denver Airport was impacted by a spring storm
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the world's busiest airports, generating more than $47.2 billion for the state of Colorado annually. In 2022, 69.3 million passengers passed through the airport, making it the third busiest airport worldwide during the global pandemic.
In early April and May 2025, a spring storm moved through the Denver area, impacting flights to and from the airport. As of 3:30 pm on Friday, 24 flights were delayed at the Colorado Springs Airport, with nine cancellations at Denver International Airport and over 600 delays. The impacted airlines included major carriers such as Southwest, United, Delta, and American. The destinations affected included Denver, Baltimore, Dallas, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Atlanta, Houston, and Chicago.
The delays and cancellations were attributed to snow, icy spots, and patchy fog, creating challenging conditions for air travel. The Colorado Department of Transportation also announced early April closures and disruptions to road transport, with 20-30 inches of snow forecast for the state. The spring storm caused significant disruptions to travel across Colorado, with multiple storms expected to bring further snowfall.
Denver International Airport is known for its expansive size, unique architecture, and stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. The airport covers 53 square miles (34,000 acres or 137.8 square kilometers), an area larger than the city boundaries of Boston, Miami, or San Francisco. The iconic design of the Jeppesen Terminal's peaked roof reflects the snow-capped mountains and evokes Colorado's early history.
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Denver International Airport is twice the size of Manhattan
Denver International Airport, also known as DEN or DIA, is one of the world's busiest airline hubs. It is located 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver. The airport operates on 53 square miles (34,000 acres or 137.8 square kilometres) of land, making it twice the size of Manhattan. It is larger than the city boundaries of Boston, Miami, or San Francisco. In terms of area, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles International, and Dallas Fort Worth airports could collectively fit inside DEN's property.
DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $47.2 billion for the region annually. It has been one of the world's busiest airports since it opened on February 28, 1995. In 2022, 69.3 million passengers passed through, making it the world's third-busiest airport during the global pandemic. The following year, it became the sixth busiest airport in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers, a 12% increase from 2022. In 2024, DEN welcomed a record-breaking 82.4 million passengers, a 5.8% increase from 2023.
DEN has plenty of room to expand its current facilities and accommodate growth. The airport's award-winning architecture and magnificent views of the Rocky Mountains create a unique atmosphere for travellers. The internationally recognised peaked roof of the Jeppesen Terminal, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, reflects the snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado, when Native American teepees dotted the Great Plains.
DEN has approximately 300 lane miles of roads and more than 51,000 public parking spaces. The airport is currently undergoing construction on the Great Hall Program, which includes relocating airline check-in and bag drop counters and improving and repairing the West Garage and West Economy.
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Frequently asked questions
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the world's busiest airports, generating $47.2 billion for Colorado annually. It opened on February 28, 1995, and covers 53 square miles of land.
A United Airlines plane returned safely to the gate at Denver Airport after an apparent wildlife encounter during takeoff. There were no reported injuries.
Hundreds of flights were delayed at Denver Airport in 2025 due to a three-day spring storm.
