Introduction
Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States
This article is about the current airport open since 1995. For the previous airport, see Stapleton International Airport.
"Denver Airport" redirects here. For the rail station, see Denver Airport station.
Denver International AirportAerial view in 2023IATA: DENICAO: KDENFAA LID: DENWMO: 72565SummaryAirport typePublicOwnerCity & County of DenverOperatorCity & County of Denver Department of AviationServesDenver metropolitan areaFront Range Urban CorridorLocationNortheast Denver, Colorado, U.S.OpenedFebruary 28, 1995; 31 years ago (1995-02-28)Hub forUnited AirlinesOperating base forFrontier AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesTime zoneMST (UTC−07:00) • Summer (DST)MDT (UTC−06:00)Elevation AMSL1,656 m / 5,434 ftCoordinates39°51′42″N 104°40′23″W / 39.86167°N 104.67306°W / 39.86167; -104.67306Websitewww.flydenver.comMapsFAA airport diagramInteractive map of Denver International AirportRunways
Direction
Length
Surface
m
ft
7/25
3,658
12,000
Concrete
8/26
3,658
12,000
Concrete
16L/34R
3,658
12,000
Concrete
16R/34L
4,877
16,000
Concrete
17L/35R
3,658
12,000
Concrete
17R/35L
3,658
12,000
Concrete
Statistics (2025)Passengers82,427,962 0.1%Aircraft operations705,469Total cargo (lbs.)732,559,659Economic contribution (2018)$33.5 billionSource: Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN) is an international airport in the Western United States, primarily serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, as well as the greater Front Range Urban Corridor.
Runway 16R/34L, with a length of 16000 ft (4877 m), is the longest public use runway in North America and the fifth longest in the world. The airport is 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast of Downtown Denver, 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.
Opened on February 28, 1995, DEN serves 26 airlines (as of 2025) providing nonstop service to 230 destinations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia; it was the fourth airport in the United States to exceed 200 destinations. The airport has been the largest operating hub for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines for several years and, as of 2024, DEN has eclipsed Chicago's O'Hare International Airport as the largest operating hub for United Airlines as well. The Colorado Department of Transportation's 2025 Economic Impact Study estimated that the airport contributes $47.2 billion annually to Colorado's economy and, with over 40,000 employees, the airport is the largest employer in the state of Colorado. The airport is located on the western edge of the Great Plains and within sight of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.[citation needed]
In 2021 and 2022, DEN was the third busiest airport in the world as well as the third busiest airport in the United States by passenger traffic. In 2023, it was the sixth busiest airport in the world and remained the third busiest in the United States, having served around 77.8 million passengers, more than a 12% increase from the prior year. DEN has been among the top 20 busiest airports in the world and top 10 busiest airports in the United States every year since 2000.
In 2025, DEN set an all-time passenger record with 82,427,962 passengers served, up 0.1% over the previous record set in 2024.
History
[edit]
View of Denver Airport (back) and Westin Hotel (front) in April 2016.
Aerial view in 2002 when runway 16R/34L was under construction
Aerial view of Jeppesen Terminal in 2025
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States because its midcontinent location was ideal for an airline hub. Several airlines, notably United Airlines and Continental Airlines, had hubs at the former Stapleton International Airport, helping make it the sixth-busiest airport in the country by the 1960s. However, Stapleton had little room to add more flights and its runways were too close together, which led 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 area airport north and east of Denver. Meanwhile, in 1983, Federico Peña was elected mayor of Denver, campaigning on a plan to expand Stapleton onto Rocky Mountain Arsenal lands. The plan had broad support, but leaders in nearby Adams County threatened to sue over noise concerns.
Eventually Peña struck a deal: Adams County leaders would rally citizens to back a plan for Denver to annex 54 square miles (140 km2) of the county to build an airport away from established neighborhoods. In 1988, Adams County voters approved the annexation. The proposal was met with some skepticism because of its location: 24 miles (39 km) from the heart of the city. But seeing the importance of a Denver air hub to the national transportation system, the federal government put $500 million (equivalent to $1.1 billion as of 2024[update]) toward the new airport. The rest of the cost would be financed by bonds, to be repaid with fees on airlines. Ground was broken in September 1989.
Two years later, Mayor Wellington Webb inherited the megaproject, which at that time was scheduled to open on October 29, 1993. At the time United was refusing to move to the new airport over the high proposed fees. The airline finally relented under the condition that the airport include an automated baggage system.
Construction delays pushed opening day back, first to December 1993, then to March 1994. By September 1993, delays due to a millwright strike and other events meant opening day was pushed back again to May 1994.
In April 1994, the city invited reporters to observe the first test of the new automated baggage system. Reporters were treated to scenes of clothing and other personal effects scattered beneath the system's tracks and carts that would often toss the luggage right off the system. After the embarrassing preview, the mayor cancelled the planned May opening. The baggage system continued to be a maintenance hassle and was finally terminated in September 2005, with traditional baggage handlers manually handling cargo and passenger luggage.
DEN finally replaced Stapleton on February 28, 1995, 16 months behind schedule and at a cost of $4.8 billion (equivalent to $9 billion as of 2024[update]), nearly $2 billion over budget ($3.7 billion as of 2024[update]). The construction employed 11,000 workers. United Airlines Flight 1062 to Kansas City International Airport was the first to depart DEN and United Flight 1474 from Colorado Springs Airport was the first to arrive at the new airport.
In September 2003, runway 16R/34L was added, the airport's sixth and at 16,000 ft (3.0 mi; 4.9 km), it is 4,000 ft (0.76 mi; 1.2 km) longer than the other runways. Its length, exceeded by only six other runways in the world, allows fully laden Airbus A380s and Boeing 747-8s to take off in the hot and high conditions at the airport, which is roughly 1 mi (1.6 km) above sea level.
During a blizzard on March 17–19, 2003, the weight of heavy snow tore a hole in the terminal's white fabric roof, and over 2 feet (0.61 m) of snow on paved areas closed the airport and its main access road (Peña Boulevard) for almost two days, stranding several thousand people. Another blizzard on December 20–21, 2006, dumped over 20 inches (51 cm) of snow in about 24 hours. The airport was closed for more than 45 hours, stranding thousands. Following this, the airport invested heavily in new snow-removal equipment that has led to a dramatic reduction in runway occupancy times to clear snow, down from an average of 45 minutes in 2006 to just 15 minutes. In 2020, the airport was awarded the Balchen/Post award, which is presented by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) for the outstanding snow and ice removal operation during difficult winter conditions.
After shunning DEN for over a decade for its high fees, Southwest Airlines entered the airport in January 2006 with 13 daily flights. Southwest has since rapidly expanded and is now the airport's second-largest carrier after United.
On November 19, 2015, a Westin hotel was added to the airport and on April 22, 2016, DEN received commuter rail service to Denver Union Station with the opening of RTD's A Line.
On September 9, 2015, a political campaign was launched by Mayor Michael Hancock to radically expand commercial development at DEN, previously prohibited by intergovernmental agreement between Denver and Adams County. The changes to the agreement were approved by both Denver and Adams County voters in November 2015.
In 2018, work began on a major interior renovation and reconfiguration to the entire Jeppesen Terminal including the beginning phases of construction to relocate all TSA security checkpoints from the A-Bridge and Great Hall on Level 5 (North and South) to Level 6 (East & West) while simultaneously updating and consolidating airline ticket counters/check-in for all airlines. Eventually, both pre- and post-security gathering and leisure areas will be incorporated into the spaces where both expansive TSA security areas on Level 5 were previously located. The renovation and reconfiguration will bring back the original intent and use of the Great Hall as a large commons area for airport patrons and visitors to enjoy. In early February 2024, the first of two new security screening areas (West Security on Level 6) opened to the public and North Security closed permanently. In early August 2025, the new East Security, directly across the Great Hall from West, opened ahead of schedule and South Security closed permanently, officially moving all security to Level 6. Simultaneously, the A-Bridge, previously the location of a small security checkpoint, reopened, now serving as a post-security alternative to the train for passengers departing from A gates. As of 2017[update], the phased terminal project was expected to be completed by 2028; however, a 2025 press release shared that the project has been moving ahead of schedule and is now projected to be complete in 2027.
Additionally in 2018, work commenced on a major gate expansion to all three concourses with 12 new gates being added to A (including several single and double-jetway gates with direct access to U.S. Customs and Border Protection), 11 to B, and 16 to C, for a total of 39 new gates. Following the completion of the project in 2020, United Airlines made plans to lease 24 additional gates on both A and B (which would bring its total gate count at DEN to around 90), as well as build a new United Club in Concourse A and expand their existing clubs in B.[needs update] Southwest Airlines leased 16 of the new gates in C bringing its total gate count at DEN to 40, which is SWA's largest gate count at any single airport. By November 2022, all new gates in A-West, B-West, B-East and C-East were in use. New retail and restaurant tenants continued to open through 2024, as well as new art that will be commissioned and installed through 2025. Additionally, all existing way-finding signs, flight information display systems and gate signs were replaced after 2017 matching what is found at the new gates and within the renovated portions of the terminal. When both the ongoing terminal and concourse projects are completed, the airport will be able to handle upwards of 100 million passengers per year.
On August 20, 2021, the airport experienced a mechanical failure of its train system that caused significant delays. In response, a request for information from the private sector was issued to analyze options to possibly supplement the train system in the future. By 2023, several companies proposed their ideas to transport passengers.
In 2022, a committee was formed to support efforts to establish flights between Denver and Africa. A public survey was conducted but results were not released and, to date, no direct flights to Africa have been established.
In August 2022, DEN broke ground on an additional gate expansion project that would bring a total of 14 ground-loaded/tarmac gates to the east end of Concourse A to be used solely for Frontier Airlines operations. Originally constructed in 2018 as temporary regional gates for United Airlines, this A-East wing was vacated by United earlier in 2022, making way for the renovation and expansion of the Frontier gates. It is intended to be removed once a more permanent A-East expansion (similar to what recently opened in A-West) occurs at an unknown future date. The renovated and expanded Concourse A-East wing officially opened summer 2024 and resulted in a gain of four gates for Frontier Airlines.
In December 2023 DEN started construction on a new 'Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation' which will help under-served communities and prepare current and future employees for a career in aviation. The CEEA will be located directly below the Westin Hotel and DEN Plaza. Construction reached substantial completion in 2025, with the broader Great Hall Program expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
In late 2023, the airport laid out preliminary plans to add four new concourses with 100 more gates east and west of the terminal by 2045. The project is being referred to as 'Operation 2045' and will help support the airport's goal of serving over 125 million passengers annually by that time.[citation needed]
On April 30, 2025, DEN welcomed the Airbus A380 for the first time for regular commercial service operated by Lufthansa. The aircraft arrived from Munich International Airport (MUC) at 1:45 pm local time and departed back to Munich at 4:15 pm. Lufthansa ran daily A380 flights from DEN to Munich until September 30.
In May 2026, DEN announced preliminary plans to build pedestrian tunnels to transport passengers between the terminal and concourses to provide an alternative to taking the trains. This is because the trains are at capacity and when outages occur, it severely affects passengers, leaving many stranded at a station, missing their flight. No official plans have been released, but the price is expected to be around $300 million to $700 million. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and last through 2028 or 2029.
Facilities
[edit]
The Air Traffic Control Tower and Concourse C at Denver International Airport with a United Airlines Boeing 737-800 taxiing below in March 2018.
The airport is 23 miles (37 km) from Downtown Denver, which is 15 miles (24 km) farther away than Stapleton International Airport, the airport DEN replaced.
The 33,531 acres (52.4 sq mi; 135.7 km2) of land owned by DEN is the largest amount of commercial airport land area in North America, by a great extent. DEN is so large that in terms of airports, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport can fit into the airport's expansive property. The land, transferred from Adams County to Denver after a 1989 vote, increased the city's size by 50 percent and bifurcated the western portion of the neighboring county. All freeway traffic accessing the airport from central Denver leaves the city and passes through Aurora for nearly two miles (3.2 km), making the airport a practical exclave. Similarly, the A Line rail service connecting the airport with downtown Denver has two intervening stations in Aurora.[citation needed]
Terminal[edit]
DEN has one terminal, named the Jeppesen Terminal after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen, and three midfield concourses, spaced far apart. The three midfield concourses have a total of 169 gates in operation as of early 2025. Concourse A is accessible via a pedestrian bridge directly from the terminal building, as well as via the underground train system that services all three concourses. For access to Concourses B and C, passengers must utilize the train. All international arrivals without border pre-clearance are processed in Concourse A; this concourse also has four 3-jetway international gates that can support ADG Group VI aircraft such as an Airbus A380 and a Boeing 747-8, the two largest commercial aircraft in the world.[citation needed]
Concourse A is used by Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, United Airlines (including all international arrivals), and all international carriers. It has 60 gates, including several ground-level boarding and double jetway gates.
Concourse B is solely used for United Airlines flights. It has 72 gates, including four double jetways and several regional gates.
Concourse C is primarily used for Southwest Airlines flights, as well as American Airlines, and most regional airliner flights. It has 47 gates, including four ground-level boarding gates.
In 2023, the airport announced a plan to significantly increase its passenger capacity by expanding the Jeppesen Terminal by 2045 with additional check-in and TSA counters. The plan would also add new concourses with a further 100 gates.
Art and aesthetics[edit]
The Teflon-coated fiberglass roof of Denver International Airport alludes to the Rocky Mountains.
The Jeppesen Terminal's internationally recognized peaked roof, designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects, resembles snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado when Native American teepees were located across the Great Plains. The catenary steel cable system, similar to the Brooklyn Bridge design, supports the fabric roof. DEN is also known for a pedestrian bridge connecting the terminal to Concourse A that allows travelers to walk from the main Terminal to Concourse A, while viewing planes taxiing beneath them. It offers views of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the high plains to the east.
Denver's public art program (which is financed by a mandatory 1% capital improvement budget) has resulted in a significant number of artworks being installed at the airport. The artwork includes sculptures, murals, photos, sound art and paintings.
The airport features a bronze statue of Denver native Jack Swigert by Loveland, Colorado, artist George Lundeen in Concourse B. Swigert flew on Apollo 13 as Command Module Pilot, and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982, but died of cancer before he was sworn in. The statue is dressed in an A7L pressure suit, and is posed holding a gold-plated helmet. It is a duplicate of a statue placed at the United States Capitol in 1997. George Lundeen is also the sculptor of The Aviator, a monumental bronze sculpture of Elrey Borge Jeppesen, for whom the terminal is named.
Denver International Airport has four murals by the Chicano artist Leo Tanguma. Children of the World Dream of Peace is in two-parts. The first depicts the horrors of war, with a man in a gasmask brandishing a saber. The second, larger part shows this man toppled, and smiling children from many nations making swords into plowshares; Tanguma explains this is a reference to the Book of Isaiah 2:4:...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Per Denver Public Art:"Children of the World Dream of Peace" is a powerful mural expressing the artist's desire to abolish violence in society. One section of the piece speaks to the tragedy and devastation of war and its impact on humanity. The mural then moves on to images of smiling children, dressed in traditional folk costumes from around the world, celebrating peace prevailing over war.In Peace and Harmony With Nature is also in two parts; Denver Public Art explains that:The first half of the mural shows children displaying great sadness over the destruction and extinction of life, as the second half of the artwork depicts humanity coming together to rehabilitate and celebrate nature.Tanguma confirms this was his intent.
In March 2019, the airport unveiled an animated, talking gargoyle in the middle of one of the concourses. The gargoyle interacted with passengers and joked about the supposed conspiracies connected to the airport.
Blue Mustang, by El Paso-born artist Luis Jiménez, was one of the earliest public art commissions for Denver International Airport in 1993. The 32-foot-tall (9.8 m) sculpture is a bright blue cast-fiberglass sculpture of a horse with glowing red eyes located between the inbound and outbound lanes of Peña Boulevard. Jiménez was killed in 2006 at age 65 while creating the sculpture when a part of it fell on him and severed an artery in his leg. At the time of his death, Jiménez had completed painting the head of the mustang. Blue Mustang was completed by others, and unveiled at the airport on February 11, 2008. The statue has been the subject of considerable controversy, and has acquired the nickname Blucifer for its demonic appearance.
Ground transportation[edit]
Main article: Denver Airport station
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates the A Line rail service between DEN and Denver Union Station in downtown Denver, making the 37 minute trip about every 15 minutes. RTD also operates an airport express bus service called skyRide between Arapahoe County or Boulder and DEN. There is also hourly service to Thornton on RTD route 104L, a limited stop bus. The airport is also served by two commuter routes with just a few runs per day: RTD route 145X to Brighton and 169L to Aurora.[citation needed]
Scheduled bus service is also available to points such as Fort Collins, and van services stretch into Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado summer and ski resort areas. Amtrak offers a Fly-Rail plan for ticketing with United Airlines for trips into scenic areas in the Western U.S. via a Denver stopover.[citation needed]
The airport is connected to I-70 and Denver via the Peña Boulevard freeway. A number of car rental companies are located at the airport, providing courtesy shuttle services from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 4, to their parking areas.
The airport claims that it is completely accessible to bicycling travelers. The city of Denver's designated bike route consists of the non-separated shoulders of the 65-mph Peña Boulevard freeway, a route which Denver's former bicycle planner James Mackay has called "a facade, an appearance, a deceit, a contrivance." The airport suggests that cyclists who prefer a less-traveled route may use 56th Avenue to Valleyhead Road, a rural 55-mph highway with no shoulder.[citation needed]
Conspiracy theories
[edit]
Conspiracies concerning the airport, inspired by the type of art, unusual architecture, and construction problems, started shortly after its completion. With the expansion of the internet, television shows such as Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, and annual media reporting of these theories, they continued to grow. Airport administration decided to embrace the conspiracy theories instead of trying to fight them. In 2016, a small "Conspiracy Theories Uncovered" exhibition was installed in the terminal, explaining some of the more popular theories. In 2019, an animatronic gargoyle named Gregoriden, or Greg for short, that randomly makes statements such as "welcome to Illuminati headquarters" was installed. Some took offense to the gargoyle, claiming it was satanic, so the gargoyle was removed and replaced with a more muted version. Other gargoyle statues, sitting on open suitcases, are in the baggage claim area. Some also view these statues as malevolent, despite their intended purpose as playful artistic creations that are claimed to safeguard luggage.
In April 2019, the Roswell International Air Center and Denver International Airport became "supernatural sister airports." In the agreement, they would work together to enhance industry best practices that involve commerce, trade and tourism. It also includes a clause that they would share strategies for extraterrestrial combat. For the airport's 20th birthday, plans to decorate the airport property with crop circles proved to be too expensive, so they were not implemented. In a marketing campaign that was tied to renovations started in 2018, posters were created with aliens joking that breeding grounds for gargoyles or meeting halls for Freemasons were being constructed. The campaign was successful, generating over $8 million in revenue.
Theories[edit]
Tunnels: The delay in opening the airport and the large budget overrun led to a variety of rumors about the tunnels that were built under the airport. The scope has been exaggerated, and there is lore that the tunnels lead to underground survival bunkers for the rich and elite, military bases, homes for aliens, homes for lizard people, or to the North American Aerospace Defense Command. The actual use for the tunnels is to move luggage between check-in counters, airplanes and baggage claim areas. Employees have been known to prank the media by wearing lizard masks. Blurry videos of lizard people have appeared online and drawings of aliens have appeared on tunnel walls. However, other graffiti, besides alien drawings, exist along the tunnels.
New World Order and other secret societies: Because of the isolated location, there are rumors that the airport will be used by the New World Order as a prison or concentration camp. The time capsule at the airport showcases an inscribed plaque that has the Freemason symbol and the words "New World Airport Commission," which is a group that has never existed, prompting the conspiracy theory that the airport is controlled by Freemasons and linked to the New World Order or other secret societies. A spokesperson for Denver International Airport, Alex Renteria, has said that the Freemasons had created the cover, and thus had included their symbol, but there is no evidence that they have any influence in running the airport. The wording about the commission was used to represent that the new airport would permit access to the world and is a reference to Dvořák's New World Symphony.
Nazism: Tanguma's murals have been purported to represent Nazism, death, or a prophecy of the end of the world, counter to the artist's meaning. The removal of the murals to keep them safe during construction prompted rumors that the project was an excuse to cover the truth. In addition, there are conspiracy theories around Nazism based on the supposedly swastika-shaped runway arrangement, which aerial views refute.
Alien languages: People have noted apparent markings that are supposed to represent alien or secret languages. The markings are actually Navajo language characters and identifiers for the airport artists.
Blue Mustang eyes: The red, glowing eyes have led some to call the horse statue demonic, thinking that the glowing eyes are referencing the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The eyes are actually a tribute to the artist's father, who owned a neon light shop in Mexico.
Flat Earth: On TikTok in April 2023, a video went viral, claiming that an artistic 30-year-old world map art installation was new and confirmed flat earth theory.
Airlines and destinations
[edit]
Passenger[edit]
AirlinesDestinations Aer Lingus Seasonal: Dublin
Aeroméxico Mexico City–Benito JuárezSeasonal: Guadalajara, Monterrey
Air Canada Montréal–Trudeau, Toronto-Pearson
Air Canada Express Vancouver
Air France Seasonal: Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Alaska Airlines Portland (OR), San Diego, Seattle/TacomaSeasonal: Anchorage
Allegiant Air Allentown, Appleton, Asheville, Destin/Fort Walton BeachSeasonal: Cincinnati, Knoxville, Peoria
American Airlines Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
American Eagle Los Angeles, Phoenix–Sky Harbor Seasonal: Dallas/Fort Worth
Breeze Airways Seasonal: Providence
British Airways London–Heathrow
Cayman Airways Seasonal: Grand Cayman
Contour Airlines Carlsbad (NM), Moab, Ruidoso (begins June 25, 2026), Vernal Seasonal: Page, Taos
Copa Airlines Panama City–Tocumen
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma
Delta Connection Austin
Denver Air Connection Alamosa, Alliance, Chadron, Clovis (NM), Cortez, McCook, Pueblo, Telluride (CO)
Frontier Airlines Atlanta, Austin, Boise, Burbank, Cancún, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charlotte, Chicago–Midway, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, El Paso, Fargo, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Houston–Hobby, Houston–Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Madison, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Missoula, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, Pensacola, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Portland (OR), Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Sioux Falls, Spokane, St. Louis, Tampa, Tucson, Tulsa, Washington–National Seasonal: Baltimore, Buffalo, Columbus–Glenn, Fort Myers, Jacksonville (FL), Palm Springs, Pittsburgh, Puerto Vallarta, San José del Cabo
Icelandair Reykjavík–Keflavík
JetBlue Boston, New York–JFK[independent source needed]
Lufthansa Frankfurt, Munich
Southwest Airlines Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham (AL), Boise, Boston, Bozeman, Burbank, Cancún, Chicago–Midway, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus–Glenn, Dallas–Love, Des Moines, Detroit, El Paso, Eugene, Fort Lauderdale, Fresno, Grand Rapids, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Houston–Hobby, Indianapolis, Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Louisville, Lubbock, Memphis, Miami, Midland/Odessa, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montrose, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Palm Springs, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Raleigh/Durham, Reno/Tahoe, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San José del Cabo, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa, Seattle/Tacoma, Spokane, St. Louis, Tampa, Tucson, Tulsa, WichitaSeasonal: Albany, Anchorage, Belize City, Buffalo, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Fort Myers, Greenville/Spartanburg, Hartford, Knoxville, Liberia (CR), Myrtle Beach, Norfolk, Panama City (FL), Pensacola, Providence, San José (CR), Sarasota, Savannah
Sun Country Airlines Minneapolis/St. Paul
Turkish Airlines Istanbul
United Airlines Albany, Albuquerque, Appleton, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Billings, Boise, Boston, Bozeman, Buffalo, Burbank, Calgary, Cancún, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chicago–O'Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus–Glenn, Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Durango (CO), Eagle/Vail, Edmonton, El Paso, Eugene, Fargo, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Frankfurt, Fresno, Glacier Park/Kalispell, Grand Junction, Grand Rapids, Greenville/Spartanburg, Hartford, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Honolulu, Houston–Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Jacksonville (FL), Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Kansas City, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Lihue, Little Rock, London–Heathrow, Los Angeles, Louisville, Madison, Medford, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Missoula, Montego Bay, Montrose, Munich, Nashville, New Orleans, New York–LaGuardia, Newark, Norfolk, Omaha, Ontario, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Springs, Panama City (FL), Pensacola, Philadelphia, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Raleigh/Durham, Rapid City, Redmond/Bend, Reno/Tahoe, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San José del Cabo, San Juan, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Savannah, Seattle/Tacoma, Sioux Falls, Spokane, St. Louis, Syracuse, Tampa, Tokyo–Narita, Toronto–Pearson, Tucson, Tulsa, Vancouver, Washington–Dulles, Washington–National, Wichita Seasonal: Belize City, Burlington (VT), Cozumel, Dayton, Fairbanks, Great Falls, Liberia (CR), Mexico City–Benito Juárez, Myrtle Beach, Nassau, Oklahoma City, Portland (ME), Roatán, Rome–Fiumicino, San José (CR), Sarasota, Traverse City, Tri-Cities (WA), West Palm Beach
United Express Abilene, Albuquerque, Amarillo, Appleton, Asheville, Aspen, Bakersfield, Billings, Birmingham (AL), Bismarck, Boise, Bozeman, Butte, Casper, Cheyenne, Cody, Colorado Springs, Columbia (MO), Dayton, Des Moines, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Dodge City, Durango (CO), Eagle/Vail, El Paso, Eureka, Fargo, Farmington, Fayetteville/Bentonville, Fresno, Gillette, Glacier Park/Kalispell, Grand Junction, Great Falls, Greenville/Spartanburg, Gunnison/Crested Butte, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Hays, Helena, Hobbs, Huntsville, Idaho Falls, Jackson Hole, Jamestown (ND), Joplin, Kansas City, Kearney, Knoxville, Laramie, Lexington, Liberal, Lincoln, Little Rock, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Minot, Missoula, Moline/Quad Cities, Monterey, Montrose, North Platte, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Panama City (FL), Peoria, Pierre, Prescott, Rapid City, Redding, Regina, Riverton, Rock Springs, Roswell, Salina, Salt Lake City, San Diego/Carlsbad, San Luis Obispo, Santa Fe, Scottsbluff, Sheridan (WY), Shreveport, Sioux City, Sioux Falls, Springfield/Branson, St. George (UT), Sun Valley, Tri-Cities (WA), Tucson, Tulsa, Watertown (SD), Wichita, Williston (ND), WinnipegSeasonal: Bishop, Chattanooga, Eugene, Harlingen, Medford, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, North Bend/Coos Bay, Omaha, Santa Barbara, Spokane, Traverse City, West Yellowstone, Wilmington (NC)
Viva Monterrey
Volaris Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Mexico City–Benito Juárez, Querétaro
WestJet Seasonal: Calgary
Cargo[edit]
This section is missing information about The cargo airlines routes and destinations list. No cargo carriers or routes are listed in a table.. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (February 2026)
Statistics
[edit]
Top destinations[edit]
Busiest domestic routes from DEN (January–December 2025)
Rank
City
Passengers
Carriers
1
Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona
1,196,470
American, Frontier, Southwest, United
2
Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois
1,026,520
American, Frontier, Southwest, United
3
Las Vegas, Nevada
999,960
Frontier, Southwest, United
4
Los Angeles, California
991,460
American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
5
Seattle/Tacoma, Washington
915,820
Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
6
San Francisco, California
910,200
Frontier, Southwest, United
7
Salt Lake City, Utah
908,650
Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
8
Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
872,360
American, Frontier, United
9
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
865,760
Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Sun Country, United
10
Atlanta, Georgia
845,410
Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
Busiest international routes from DEN (July 2024 – June 2025)
Rank
Airport
Passengers
Carriers
1
Cancún, Mexico
545,633
Frontier, Southwest, United
2
Vancouver, Canada
423,759
Air Canada, United
3
London–Heathrow, United Kingdom
413,180
British Airways, United
4
Frankfurt, Germany
327,804
Lufthansa, United
5
Munich, Germany
300,924
Lufthansa, United
6
Toronto–Pearson, Canada
296,817
Air Canada, United
7
Calgary, Canada
290,530
United, WestJet
8
San José del Cabo, Mexico
265,508
Frontier, Southwest, United
9
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
226,952
Frontier, Southwest, United
10
Mexico City, Mexico
220,015
Aeroméxico, Volaris
Airline market share[edit]
Largest Airlines at DEN (October 2024 – September 2025)'
Rank
Airline
Passengers
Share
1
United Airlines
41,020,383
49.9%
2
Southwest Airlines
24,099,583
29.3%
3
Frontier Airlines
7,693,194
9.4%
4
Delta Air Lines
3,370,906
4.1%
5
American Airlines
2,824,681
3.4%
–
Other Airlines
3,233,016
3.9%
^ Includes United Express flights operated by CommuteAir, Mesa Airlines and SkyWest Airlines.
^ Includes Delta Connection flights operated by SkyWest Airlines.
^ Includes American Eagle flights operated by Envoy Air and SkyWest Airlines.
Annual traffic[edit]
PassengersYear30,000,00040,000,00050,000,00060,000,00070,000,00080,000,00090,000,0001995200020052010201520202025PassengersAnnual passenger traffic
Annual passenger traffic at DEN, 1995–present
Year
Passengers
Year
Passengers
Year
Passengers
Year
Passengers
1995
31,067,498
2005
43,387,369
2015
54,014,502
2025
82,427,962
1996
32,296,174
2006
47,326,506
2016
58,266,515
2026
1997
34,969,837
2007
49,863,352
2017
61,379,396
2027
1998
36,831,400
2008
51,245,334
2018
64,494,613
2028
1999
38,034,017
2009
50,167,485
2019
69,015,703
2029
2000
38,751,687
2010
51,985,038
2020
33,741,129
2030
2001
36,092,806
2011
52,849,132
2021
58,828,552
2031
2002
35,652,084
2012
53,156,278
2022
69,286,461
2032
2003
37,505,267
2013
52,556,359
2023
77,837,917
2033
2004
42,275,913
2014
53,472,514
2024
82,358,744
2034
^ Passenger totals for first two months of 1995 reflect operations at Stapleton International Airport.
Accidents and incidents
[edit]
On December 20, 2008, Continental Airlines Flight 1404, a Boeing 737-500 bound for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, departed the left side of runway 34R during the takeoff roll during high (30 knots) crosswinds. A post-crash fire ensued. There were 6 serious injuries and 41 minor injuries, and 68 passengers were uninjured. There were no fatalities. The aircraft was destroyed and written off. The captain's cessation of right rudder input during takeoff was the major cause of the accident.
On May 8, 2026, Frontier Airlines Flight 4345, an Airbus A321neo bound for Los Angeles International Airport was taking off on runway 17L when it struck and killed a trespasser who had jumped over the perimeter fence. The aircraft stopped on the runway. The collision caused an engine fire, prompting passengers to evacuate via the escape slides.
