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Stapleton International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN) was a major airport in Denver, Colorado, United States, from 1929 until its closure in 1995. The airport was named after Benjamin Stapleton, who served as mayor of Denver from 1923 to 1947. With foresight into the potential of the aviation industry, he played a key role in the airport's development, which opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport (DMA). Over the years, the airport grew to become a hub for several major airlines and played a significant role in Denver's emergence as a national transportation hub. However, by the late 1980s, the city's needs had outgrown the facility, leading to the decision to replace it with the Denver International Airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Stapleton International Airport |
| IATA Code | DEN |
| ICAO Code | KDEN |
| FAA LID | DEN |
| Location | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Year Opened | 1929 |
| Year Closed | 1995 |
| Duration of Operation | 65 years |
| Number of Runways | 6 |
| Number of Terminal Concourses | 5 |
| Hub Airlines | Continental Airlines, the original Frontier Airlines, People Express, United Airlines, and Western Airlines |
| Other Airlines | Aspen Airways, today’s Frontier Airlines, and Rocky Mountain Airways |
| Replacement Airport | Denver International Airport |
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What You'll Learn
- Stapleton International Airport's IATA and ICAO codes were DEN and KDEN, respectively
- The airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport, which inherited its codes
- Stapleton was Denver's primary airport for 65 years before closing in 1995
- The airport's closure was due to its runways being too close together and too short
- The Stapleton neighbourhood now occupies the airport's former location
Stapleton International Airport's IATA and ICAO codes were DEN and KDEN, respectively
Stapleton International Airport was a major airport in the western United States and served as the primary airport of Denver, Colorado, from 1929 until its closure in 1995. The airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport, which inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes of DEN and KDEN, respectively.
The IATA, or International Air Transport Association, code is a unique three-letter code that identifies airports around the world. The ICAO, or International Civil Aviation Organization, code is a four-letter code that also serves to identify airports. These codes are essential for flight planning, airline scheduling, and air traffic management.
Stapleton International Airport played a significant role in Denver's development as a national transportation and shipping hub. It was a hub for several major airlines, including Continental Airlines, the original Frontier Airlines, People Express, United Airlines, and Western Airlines. Other airlines with smaller operations at Stapleton included Aspen Airways, today's Frontier Airlines, and Rocky Mountain Airways.
However, by the late 1980s, it became apparent that Denver's needs had outgrown the facility. The airport faced issues such as inadequate lateral separation between runways, leading to long waits during instrument flight operations. Additionally, the airport was too close to the city, and Denver faced lawsuits over noise complaints from residents in the nearby Park Hill neighbourhood.
As a result, the decision was made to open the Denver International Airport, located 15 miles east of the city. The new airport offered longer runways, addressing the issues faced by Stapleton, and ensuring safer and more efficient operations for larger aircraft. The transfer of the IATA and ICAO codes from Stapleton International Airport to the new Denver International Airport facilitated a smooth transition for airlines and air traffic control, ensuring that flights destined for Denver would seamlessly land at the new airport.
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The airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport, which inherited its codes
Stapleton International Airport was the primary airport of Denver, Colorado, from 1929 until 1995. It was a hub for several major airlines, including Continental, United, and Western Airlines. The airport played a crucial role in Denver's development as a national transportation hub, but by the late 1980s, it became apparent that the city's needs had outgrown the facility. The airport faced several issues, including inadequate separation between runways, which led to long waits during operations, and its proximity to the city, resulting in noise complaints from residents.
In 1995, after 65 years of service, Stapleton International Airport was closed and replaced by the Denver International Airport (DIA), located 15 miles to the east. The decision to close Stapleton was primarily due to the issues with runway spacing and the airport's inability to accommodate the increasing aviation demands of Denver. The new DIA featured longer runways, addressing the issues faced by Stapleton.
The IATA and ICAO airport codes of DEN and KDEN, previously assigned to Stapleton, were transferred to the new Denver International Airport. This transfer ensured that flights destined for Denver would now land at the new DIA. The codes were changed in airline and ATC computer systems, coinciding with the closure of Stapleton, to avoid confusion and ensure a smooth transition to the new airport.
The closure of Stapleton International Airport marked the end of an era for Denver's aviation history. The airport's infrastructure was mostly removed, and the land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community. The control tower, however, remains standing and has been preserved, serving as a reminder of the airport's legacy and a unique feature in the new neighbourhood.
Today, the former airport site is unrecognisable, having been transformed into a vibrant neighbourhood known as Central Park. This redevelopment has received national recognition for its commitment to sustainable development and community-building, setting an example for other urban renewal initiatives across the country.
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Stapleton was Denver's primary airport for 65 years before closing in 1995
Stapleton International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN) was Denver, Colorado's primary airport from 1929 until its closure in 1995. It was a hub for Continental Airlines, the original Frontier Airlines, People Express, United Airlines, and Western Airlines.
The airport opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport (DMA). It was renamed Stapleton Airfield in 1944, in honour of the mayor at the time, Benjamin Stapleton, who had been instrumental in the airport's development. By 1945, the airport had experienced significant growth, with an increase in acreage, commercial flights, employees, and airlines.
In the 1950s, air travel became an established means of transportation, and Denver's airport was pushed to its capacity. By the 1980s, plans were underway to replace Stapleton due to issues such as inadequate runway separation, which caused long waits during instrument-flight operations. The airport's proximity to the city also led to noise complaints from residents, and its location restricted the height of buildings in downtown Denver.
Stapleton International Airport was replaced by the Denver International Airport (DIA) in 1995. The Stapleton Foundation was established in 1990 to develop a plan for the airport site's redevelopment, and the Stapleton Development Plan ("the Green Book") was published in 1995. The airport's buildings were eventually torn down, and the land was redeveloped into a thriving urban community, with the exception of the control tower, which remains standing.
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The airport's closure was due to its runways being too close together and too short
Stapleton International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN) was a major airport in Denver, Colorado, United States. It opened in 1929 and was the primary airport of Denver for sixty-five years until it was replaced by the Denver International Airport in 1995.
The airport was instrumental in Denver's development as a national transportation and shipping hub. However, by the 1980s, plans were underway to replace Stapleton due to several issues. The main reason for the airport's closure was the inadequate lateral separation between its runways, which caused long waits during instrument-flight operations. The runways were also too short, especially considering the airport was at 5,333 feet above sea level.
Stapleton had six runways (two sets of three parallel runways) when it closed in 1995. The close proximity of the runways meant that air traffic controllers had to stagger airplane movements. This led to significant congestion, especially as the airport was being pushed to its capacity with increasing passenger travel.
The new Denver International Airport addressed these issues with longer runways. All runways are at or over 12,000 feet in length, compared to Stapleton's runways, which were too short for regular jet traffic. The new airport also had ample space to accommodate the growing aviation industry and ensure efficient flight operations without the long waits experienced at Stapleton.
Today, most of Stapleton's airport infrastructure has been removed, and the land has been redeveloped into a thriving urban community with over 35,000 residents.
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The Stapleton neighbourhood now occupies the airport's former location
Stapleton International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN) was Denver, Colorado's primary airport. It opened on October 17, 1929, and was replaced by the current Denver International Airport in 1995. The airport codes for Stapleton were transferred to the new airport.
Central Park is a master-planned community in northeast Denver, with 12 specifically named sub-neighbourhoods, 11 public and private schools, 50 parks, seven pools, several shopping and business districts, a recreation centre, and a library. The Central Park RTD Station and its surrounding area were expanded in 2019 to include upscale apartments, offices, a hotel, and retail shops.
The Stapleton airport buildings have mostly been removed, except for the 12-story control tower and some hangars. The tower is closed to the public but is available for private tours. The Stapleton Development Foundation, a private group of Denver civic leaders, produced a master plan for the site in 1995, emphasising a pedestrian-oriented design.
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Frequently asked questions
The Stapleton International Airport codes were IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, and FAA LID: DEN.
Stapleton International Airport opened on October 17, 1929, as Denver Municipal Airport. It was renamed Stapleton International Airport in 1964.
Stapleton International Airport closed in 1995. It was replaced by the Denver International Airport, which opened in the same year.
Stapleton International Airport was closed because it had become too small and too close to the city. The runways were too close together, and most of them were too short. The city was facing lawsuits from residents in the Park Hill neighborhood over noise issues.
Most of the airport's infrastructure has been removed. The airport buildings now lie vacant, and the land has been redeveloped into a thriving urban community. The 12-story control tower still stands and was, for a time, part of a restaurant and social gathering spot called Punch Bowl Social.
