
Denver International Airport, also known as DIA, is located in Denver, Colorado, and has the airport code DEN. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving around 82 million passengers in 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Denver International Airport |
| Airport Code | DEN |
| Other Codes | IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN |
| Nickname | DIA |
| Location | Denver, Colorado, US |
| Distance from Downtown Denver | 23-25 miles |
| Land Area | 33,500-33,531 acres |
| Runway Length | 16,000 feet |
| Number of Terminals | 1 |
| Number of Concourses | 3 |
| Number of Employees | 40,000+ |
| Year Opened | 1995 |
| Previous Airport | Stapleton International Airport |
| Art | Integrated art collection |
| Notable Features | Clean, spacious, free Wi-Fi, shuttle services, attached hotel |
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What You'll Learn

The airport code 'DEN'
The airport code DEN refers to Denver International Airport, located in Denver, Colorado. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers in 2023 and 82.3 million in 2024. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines, and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area, covering 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi or 135.7 km2). It is 23 to 30 miles from downtown Denver, and is accessible via the A Line rail service, which takes around 30 to 37 minutes. The airport also has shuttle services, taxi cabs, and limousine services available for transportation to and from the city.
Denver International Airport has one terminal, the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen. It features 2.6 million square feet of space and houses various amenities, including restaurants, shops, nursing rooms, and free wireless internet access. The airport also boasts a vast art collection integrated into its building design, contributing to its reputation as one of the world's best airports.
Denver International Airport is committed to growth and development. It has undergone expansions, renovations, and improvements to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. The airport has also taken initiatives to enhance its infrastructure, operational efficiency, and customer experience. With its dynamic nature and focus on improvement, Denver International Airport, denoted by the code DEN, continues to be a significant aviation hub in the United States.
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Denver International Airport
The airport features the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, spanning 2.6 million square feet. It also has three midfield concourses with a total of 169 gates as of early 2025. Concourse A is accessible via a pedestrian bridge and an underground train system from the terminal building. Passengers must use the train to access Concourses B and C. International arrivals without border pre-clearance are processed in Concourse A, which also has the capacity to support the two largest commercial aircraft in the world: the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 747-8.
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The airport's history
Denver International Airport, also known as DIA, opened in February 1995. It is the only major airport to be built in the US in the last 25 years. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains, 25 miles (40km) northeast of Downtown Denver, and within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States, as its mid-continent location is ideal for an airline hub. Several airlines, notably United Airlines and Continental Airlines, had hubs at the former Stapleton International Airport, which helped make it the sixth-busiest airport in the country by the 1960s. However, Stapleton struggled to keep up with passenger service, and its runways were too close together, leading to long delays and nationwide travel disruptions in bad weather.
From 1980 to 1983, the Denver Regional Council of Governments investigated areas for a new airport north and east of Denver. In 1983, Federico Peña was elected mayor of Denver, campaigning on a plan to expand Stapleton onto Rocky Mountain Arsenal lands. Leaders in nearby Adams County threatened to sue over noise concerns, but eventually, Peña struck a deal: Adams County leaders would rally citizens to back a plan for Denver to annex 54 square miles (140km2) of the county to build a new airport away from established neighbourhoods. In 1988, Adams County voters approved the annexation, and ground was broken in September 1989.
Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the world by land area, occupying 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2). It is also one of the busiest airports in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers in 2023 and setting a new record in 2024 with 82,358,744 passengers. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. With over 40,000 employees, it is the largest employer in Colorado.
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Airport facilities
The airport code for Denver International Airport is DEN. It is one of the busiest airports in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers in 2023 and 82,358,744 passengers in 2024. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains, about 25 miles from Downtown Denver.
Denver International Airport has a wide range of facilities and amenities for travellers. The airport features three concourses (Gates A, B, and C) with various restaurants, shops, and concessions. Gate A provides access to international flights, while all gates offer family restrooms, pet relief areas, and nursing rooms. Electric carts are available for elderly or disabled passengers who need assistance reaching the gates.
The Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, is the airport's only terminal. It covers 2.6 million square feet and is enclosed by a 240,000 square foot tent roof. The terminal provides free wireless internet access, charging stations, and interactive maps to help travellers navigate. Level 5 of the terminal offers baggage carousels, taxi cabs, ride-share services, and access to the Westin Denver International Airport hotel.
Denver International Airport also boasts a comprehensive deicing fluid collection and recycling system, with an average collection rate of about 70% of all fluid applied during winter. The airport is committed to sustainability, with reusable bottle refill stations throughout the concourses. Additionally, it features over 30 public artworks and rotating exhibits, showcasing the integration of art into the airport's design.
The airport provides a range of services, including ATMs, a bank branch, and currency exchange. VIP lounges, quiet areas, and family spaces are available for travellers seeking comfort and convenience. With over 40,000 employees, Denver International Airport strives to meet the needs of travellers and is recognised as one of the cleanest and most efficient airports.
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Transport to and from the airport
Denver International Airport, also known as DIA, is located 23-30 miles from Downtown Denver. The airport is accessible by road and rail, with parking facilities available.
By Rail
The A Line commuter rail service connects the airport with Denver Union Station. The 23-mile journey takes around 37 minutes and costs $10 each way. The rail line serves eight stations and trains depart every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., and every 30 minutes outside of these hours. The DEN Transit Center can be accessed at the south end of the Jeppesen Terminal.
By Road
Several shuttle services operate to and from the airport, including SuperShuttle, Groome Transportation, and Lyft or Uber. SuperShuttle offers a premium service with upfront pricing and trained, insured drivers. Groome Transportation provides daily round trips between the airport, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Wyoming.
Taxis are also available, but this option can be expensive, costing around $80 for a trip to downtown Denver.
By Car
There are various parking options available at the airport, including garage and economy parking. However, parking lots tend to fill up quickly, so it is recommended to arrive early to secure a spot.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport code for Denver Airport is DEN.
Some airport codes use the first few letters of the city's name or a common abbreviation. DEN is derived from "Denver".
Denver Airport is also known as Denver International Airport, DIA, and Stapleton International Airport (the airport that DEN replaced).
Denver Airport opened in 1995. February has also been cited as the opening month.








































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