Lois Larson
Denver International Airport (DIA) opened in 1995, replacing the city's former Stapleton International Airport. The new airport is located 25 miles northeast of the city and is the largest airport in North America by land area, as well as the second-largest in the world. The airport is known for its distinctive, tent-like roof, designed to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains. Denver International Airport has become one of the busiest airports in the United States and is a major hub for several key US airlines, including United, Frontier, and Southwest.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Opening date | 28 February 1995 |
| Previous airport | Stapleton International Airport |
| Distance from Downtown Denver | 25 miles |
| Size | 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2) |
| Number of runways | 6 |
| Longest runway | 16R/34L (16,000 feet; 3.03 mi; 4.88 km) |
| Number of airlines | 25 |
| Number of destinations | Over 215 |
| Number of employees | Over 40,000 |
What You'll Learn
Denver International Airport opened in 1995
Denver International Airport (DEN) opened in February 1995, 16 months behind schedule. It replaced the city's former Stapleton International Airport, which had served as the region's primary airport for 65 years.
The new airport is located 25 miles northeast of Denver and is the largest airport in North America by land area, covering 52.4 square miles. It is also the second-largest airport in the world by land area.
The construction of the airport was a massive undertaking, costing $4.8 billion (equivalent to $8.8 billion in 2023), nearly $2 billion over the initial budget. The project provided employment to 11,000 workers and is considered the last large commercial airport constructed in the United States.
Denver International Airport is known for its distinctive, tent-like roof, designed by architects Curt Fentress and James Bradburn to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains. The airport features a computerized baggage system, six runways, and a Jeppesen Terminal named after aviation pioneer Elrey Jeppesen.
Since its opening, the airport has become a major hub for several key US airlines, including United, Frontier, and Southwest. It currently serves 25 different airlines, offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations worldwide.
Denver International Airport has also been a magnet for myths and legends, with various conspiracy theories surrounding its construction and artwork. Despite the controversies and challenges, the airport has made a strong recovery from the pandemic and continues to be a significant contributor to Colorado's economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Narita Airport: Hotels Inside the Terminals for Easy Access
You may want to see also
It is one of the largest airports in the world
Denver International Airport (DEN) is one of the largest airports in the world. At 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2), it is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second-largest in the world, behind King Fahd International Airport.
The airport is located 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, and is the largest employer in Colorado with over 40,000 employees. It is also one of the busiest airports in the world, serving around 77.8 million passengers in 2023.
The airport has a distinctive, tent-like roof, designed to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains. The roof is made of Teflon-coated white fibreglass, which glows day and night. The airport's single terminal is named the Jeppesen Terminal, after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, and has three midfield concourses.
Denver International Airport has six runways, including the seventh-longest public-use runway in the world, Runway 16R/34L, which is 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km) long. The length of this runway, along with that of the other five runways, is necessary due to the airport's high altitude, which causes reduced lift and engine performance.
The airport is currently undergoing a major interior renovation, with plans to add 39 new gates across the three concourses. There are also plans to add four new concourses with 100 more gates by 2045, which will help the airport handle upwards of 100 million passengers per year.
Bradley Airport: COVID Testing Availability and Accessibility
You may want to see also
It is 25 miles from the city
Denver International Airport (DIA) is located 25 miles northeast of the city of Denver. It is the largest airport in North America by land area and the second-largest in the world. The airport is 19 miles farther from the city than its predecessor, Stapleton International Airport.
The airport's distance from the city was a point of contention for critics of the project. Some argued that the new airport would generate more traffic and automobile pollution by being 13 miles farther from the core city than Stapleton. Critics also worried that the new airport would take business, conventions, and tourists away from the urban core to the northern and eastern suburbs. This prediction came true, as many airport-related services, such as hotels, are located in Aurora, a city closer to the airport than Denver.
Despite the concerns about its location, the metro area has expanded up to its doorstep. A busy RTD rail line now provides an alternative to an expensive cab ride to the terminal.
Aruba Airport: A Guide to Its Location and Features
You may want to see also
It is the largest airport in North America by land area
Denver International Airport (DEN) is the largest airport in North America by land area. The airport covers a total surface area of 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi or 135.7 km2). To put that into perspective, the airport is larger in land area (excluding water) than the US cities of Boston, Massachusetts, and San Francisco, California. The airport's land area is more than one and a half times the size of Manhattan (including water).
The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and is within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Its distinctive, tent-like roof, designed by architects Curt Fentress and James Bradburn, was inspired by the snow-capped Rockies and from American Indian tipis that once occupied the site.
The airport is 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Downtown Denver, which is 19 miles (31 km) farther than the former Stapleton International Airport, which DEN replaced. The airport is actually closer to the City of Aurora than central Denver, and many airport-related services, such as hotels, are located in Aurora.
Denver International Airport is one of the largest and busiest airports in the United States. It is a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for both Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines. The airport currently serves 25 different airlines, offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations worldwide.
The construction of the airport began in September 1989 and it opened on February 28, 1995, 16 months behind schedule. The airport has continued to undergo constant change and expansion since its opening.
Cairo Airport: Luggage Storage Options and Availability
You may want to see also
It is known for its distinctive, tent-like roof
Denver International Airport's distinctive, tent-like roof is the work of architects Curt Fentress and James Bradburn. The roof was designed to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains and was inspired by the American Indian tipis that once occupied the site. The roof is made of Teflon-coated white fibreglass, which glows day and night, sitting atop a man-made mesa.
The roof is supported by a catenary steel cable system, similar to the design of the Brooklyn Bridge. The roof covers the Jeppesen Terminal, named for aviation pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, who was known worldwide for his navigation charts. The terminal is the largest in North America by land area and the second-largest in the world.
The tented roof is one of the airport's most recognisable features and has become a symbol of the airport. The airport is also known for its efficient operations, serving as a hub for several major airlines and offering non-stop service to over 215 destinations.
Lockers at Vancouver Airport: Available or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Construction on the Denver International Airport began in September 1989 and it opened on February 28, 1995.
The Denver International Airport (DIA) is the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area and the second largest in the world. It is also one of the busiest airports in the United States.
The airport is the largest employer in Colorado with over 40,000 employees. It is also a major hub for United Airlines and the largest operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
The airport is located 25 miles northeast of Downtown Denver and is closer to the City of Aurora. It features artworks, including murals, sculptures, and photographs, as part of Denver's public art program. The distinctive tent-like roof of the terminal building was designed to mimic the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains.
The Denver International Airport has been a subject of numerous conspiracy theories, ranging from secret underground bunkers, lizard people, and alien languages to apocalyptic predictions and connections with secret societies like the Freemasons, Illuminati, and the New World Order.
