Runway 16R/34L, with a length of 16,000 feet (3.03 mi; 4.88 km), is the longest public use runway in North America and thefifth longest on Earth. The airport is 25 miles (40 km) driving distance northeast ofDowntown Denver,[5] 19 miles (31 km) farther than the formerStapleton International Airport which DEN replaced; the airport is actually closer to theCity of Aurora than central Denver, and many airport-related services, such as hotels, are located in Aurora.[6]
Opened on February 28, 1995, DEN serves 27 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.[7][8] The airport has been the largest operating hub forFrontier Airlines andSouthwest Airlines for several years and, as of 2024, DEN has eclipsed Chicago'sO'Hare International Airport as the largest operating hub forUnited Airlines as well.[9] TheColorado Department of Transportation's 2025 Economic Impact Study estimated that the airport contributes $47.2 billion annually to Colorado's economy[10] 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 theGreat Plains and within sight of theFront Range of theRocky Mountains.
In 2021 and 2022, DEN was the thirdbusiest airport in the world as well as the thirdbusiest 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.[11][12]
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.
Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the United States because its midcontinent location was ideal for anairline hub. Several airlines, notablyUnited Airlines andContinental Airlines, had hubs at the formerStapleton 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.[13]
From 1980 to 1983, theDenver 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 ontoRocky Mountain Arsenal lands. The plan had broad support, but leaders in nearby Adams County threatened to sue over noise concerns.[13]
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.[13]
Two years later, MayorWellington Webb inherited themegaproject, which at that time was scheduled to open on October 29, 1993.[14] 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.[13]
Construction delays pushed opening day back, first to December 1993, then to March 1994. By September 1993, delays due to amillwright strike and other events meant opening day was pushed back again to May 1994.[15]
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 traditionalbaggage handlers manually handling cargo and passenger luggage.[16]
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]),[17] nearly $2 billion over budget ($3.7 billion as of 2024[update]).[6][18] The construction employed 11,000 workers.[19]United Airlines Flight 1062 toKansas City International Airport was the first to depart DEN and United Flight 1474 fromColorado Springs Airport was the first to arrive at the new airport.[6]
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 ladenAirbus A380s andBoeing 747-8s to take off in thehot and high conditions at the airport, which is roughly 1 mi (1.6 km) above sea level.[20][21]
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.[22][23] 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.[24] 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 theBalchen/Post award, which is presented by the Northeast Chapter of theAmerican Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) for the outstanding snow and ice removal operation during difficult winter conditions.[25]
After shunning DEN for over a decade for its high fees,Southwest Airlines entered the airport in January 2006 with 13 daily flights.[26] Southwest has since rapidly expanded and is now the airport's second-largest carrier after United.[27]
On September 9, 2015, a political campaign was launched by MayorMichael Hancock to radically expand commercial development at DEN, previously prohibited by intergovernmental agreement between Denver and Adams County.[30] The changes to the agreement were approved by both Denver and Adams County voters in November 2015.[31]
In 2018, work began on a major interior renovation and reconfiguration to the entire Jeppesen Terminal including the beginning phases of construction to relocate allTSA 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 are currently 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.[32] As of 2017[update], the phased terminal project was expected to be completed by 2028;[33] however, a 2025 press release shared that the project has been moving ahead of schedule and is now projected to be complete in 2027.[34]
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 toU.S. Customs and Border Protection), 11 to B, and 16 to C, for a total of 39 new gates.[35] 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 newUnited Club in Concourse A and expand their existing clubs in B.[36][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.[37] 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.[38]
On August 20, 2021, the airport experienced a mechanical failure ofits train system that caused significant delays.[39] In response, a request for information from the private sector was issued to analyze options to possibly supplement the train system in the future.[40] By 2023, several companies proposed their ideas to transport passengers.[41]
In 2022, a committee was formed to support efforts to establish flights between Denver and Africa.[42] A public survey was conducted but results were not released and, to date, no direct flights to Africa have been established.[43]
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.[44]
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 and is expected to open in late 2024 or early 2025.[45]
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.[46] 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.
On April 30, 2025, DEN welcomed theAirbus A380 for the first time for regular commercial service operated byLufthansa. The aircraft arrived fromMunich 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.[47]
The 33,531 acres (135.70 km2; 52.392 sq mi)[48][49] of land owned by DEN is the largest amount of commercial airport land area in North America, by a great extent. The land, transferred fromAdams County to Denver after a 1989 vote,[50] 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 throughAurora for nearly two miles (3.2 km), making the airport apractical exclave. Similarly, the A Line rail service connecting the airport with downtown Denver has two intervening stations in Aurora.
The Denver International Airport area from above in August 2023.
DEN has one terminal, named the Jeppesen Terminal after aviation safety pioneerElrey 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.[51] Concourse A is accessible via a pedestrian bridge directly from the terminal building, as well as via theunderground 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 anAirbus A380 and aBoeing 747-8, the two largest commercial aircraft in the world.
Concourse B is solely used forUnited Airlines flights. It has 72 gates, including four double jetways and several regional gates.[52]
Concourse C is primarily used forSouthwest Airlines flights, as well asAmerican Airlines, and most regional airliner flights. It has 47 gates, including four ground-level boarding gates.[52]
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.[53]
The Teflon-coated fiberglass roof of Denver International Airport alludes to theRocky Mountains.
The Jeppesen Terminal's internationally recognized peaked roof, designed byFentress Bradburn Architects, resembles snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado when Native Americanteepees were located across theGreat Plains. Thecatenary steel cable system, similar to theBrooklyn Bridge design, supports thefabric roof.[54] DEN is also known for a pedestrian bridge connecting theterminal 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.[55]
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.[56][57]
The airport features abronze statue of Denver nativeJack Swigert by Loveland, Colorado artistGeorge Lundeen in Concourse B. Swigert flew onApollo 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 anA7Lpressure suit, and is posed holding agold-plated helmet. It is a duplicate ofa statue placed at theUnited States Capitol in 1997.[58] George Lundeen is also the sculptor ofThe Aviator, a monumental bronze sculpture ofElrey Borge Jeppesen, for whom the terminal is named.[59][60]
Denver International Airport has four murals by theChicano 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 makingswords into plowshares; Tanguma explains this is a reference to theBook of Isaiah 2:4:[61]
...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares—nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
"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:[63]
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.
In March 2019, the airport unveiled an animated, talkinggargoyle in the middle of one of the concourses. The gargoyle interacted with passengers and joked about the supposed conspiracies connected to the airport.[65]
Blue Mustang, by El Paso-born artistLuis 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 ofPeña Boulevard.[66] Jiménez was killed in 2006 at age 65 while creating the sculpture when a part of it fell on him and severed anartery in hisleg. 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.[67] The statue has been the subject of considerable controversy, and has acquired the nicknameBlucifer for its demonic appearance.[68][69]
TheRegional Transportation District (RTD) operates theA Line rail service between DEN andDenver Union Station indowntown Denver, making the 37 minute trip about every 15 minutes. RTD also operates an airport express bus service called skyRide betweenArapahoe County orBoulder and DEN. There is also hourly service toThornton 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 toBrighton and 169L toAurora.
Scheduled bus service is also available to points such asFort Collins, and van services stretch intoNebraska,Wyoming, and Colorado summer andski resort areas.Amtrak offers a Fly-Rail plan for ticketing with United Airlines for trips into scenic areas in theWestern U.S. via a Denver stopover.
The airport is connected toI-70 and Denver via the Peña Boulevard freeway. A number ofcar rental companies are located at the airport, providing courtesy shuttle services from Jeppesen Terminal Level 5, Island 4, to their parking areas.[70]
The airport claims that it is completely accessible to bicycling travelers.[71] 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."[72] The airport suggests that cyclists who prefer a less-traveled route may use 56th Avenue to Valleyhead Road,[71] a rural 55-mph highway with no shoulder.
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 asConspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, and annual media reporting of these theories, they continued to grow.[73] Airport administration decided to embrace the conspiracy theories instead of trying to fight them.[73][74] In 2016, a small "Conspiracy Theories Uncovered" exhibition was installed in the terminal, explaining some of the more popular theories.[73][75] In 2019, an animatronicgargoyle named Gregoriden, or Greg for short, that randomly makes statements such as "welcome toIlluminati headquarters"[74] 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.[74][76][73]
In April 2019, theRoswell International Air Center and Denver International Airport became "supernatural sister airports."[74][77] 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.[77] 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 forFreemasons were being constructed. The campaign was successful, generating over $8 million in revenue.[74]
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 theNorth American Aerospace Defense Command.[74][76][73] 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.[73]
New World Order and other secret societies: Because of the isolated location, there are rumors that the airport will be used by theNew World Order as a prison or concentration camp.[74] 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.[76][73] 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.[73][76] The wording about the commission was used to represent that the new airport would permit access to the world and is a reference toDvořák'sNew World Symphony.[76][73]
Nazism: Tanguma's murals have been purported to representNazism, death, or a prophecy of the end of the world, counter to the artist's meaning.[74][76] The removal of the murals to keep them safe during construction prompted rumors that the project was an excuse to cover the truth.[74] In addition, there are conspiracy theories around Nazism based on the supposedly swastika-shaped runway arrangement, which aerial views refute.[73][74]
Alien languages: People have noted apparent markings that are supposed to represent alien or secret languages. The markings are actuallyNavajo language characters and identifiers for the airport artists.[73]
Blue Mustang eyes: The red, glowing eyes have led some to call the horse statue demonic, thinking that the glowing eyes are referencing theFour Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The eyes are actually a tribute to the artist's father, who owned a neon light shop inMexico.[73][76][74]
Flat Earth: OnTikTok in April 2023, a video went viral, claiming that an artistic 30-year-old world map art installation was new and confirmedflat earth theory.[74]
On February 16, 2007, 14 aircraft experienced windshield failures over a three-and-a-half-hour period at the airport, with a total of 26 windshields affected. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an investigation and determined that the failures were caused byforeign object damage, possibly due to sharp sand used earlier in the winter for traction, combined with wind gusts of up to 48 mph (77 km/h).[457]
On December 20, 2008,Continental Airlines Flight 1404, aBoeing 737-500 bound for Houston–Intercontinental Airport, veered off the left side of runway 34R and caught fire during its takeoff roll. Thirty-eight passengers and crew sustained injuries, but there were no fatalities. Although the runway was clear of snow and ice,crosswinds of 31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) were reported at the time. On July 13, 2010, the NTSB determined the probable cause to be the captain’s cessation of right rudder input, which was necessary to maintain directional control of the aircraft.[458][459]
On February 20, 2021,United Airlines Flight 328, aBoeing 777-200 en route from Denver to Honolulu, suffered an engine failure shortly after takeoff and returned to Denver International Airport. Debris from the damaged engine fell in a residential area ofBroomfield, approximately 25 miles (40 km; 22 nmi) from the airport. The aircraft landed safely on runway 26, and no injuries were reported.[460]
^Dear, Joseph A., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (April 11, 1995).Rocky Mountain Health & Safety Conference (Speech). John Q. Hammons Trade Center, Denver, Colorado. Archived fromthe original on August 13, 2007. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2008.{{cite speech}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Hake, Tony. "This week in Denver weather history: March 11 to March 17".Examiner. AXS Digital Group.Denver International Airport was closed...stranding about 4000 travelers. The weight of the heavy snow caused a 40-foot gash in a portion of the tent roof...forcing the evacuation of that section of the main terminal building.
^Goetz, Andrew R.; Szyliowicz, Joseph S. (1997). "Revisiting Transportation Planning and Decision Making Theory: The Case of Denver International Airport".Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.31 (4): 270.Bibcode:1997TRPA...31..263G.doi:10.1016/S0965-8564(96)00033-X.
^"About DEN".Denver International Airport. RetrievedFebruary 20, 2025.
^ab"Bicycling at DEN". Denver: City and County of Denver Department of Aviation. RetrievedSeptember 22, 2023.
^Minor, Nathaniel (March 23, 2020)."Why Is Peña Boulevard A Bike Route? And Does Anyone Actually Use It?".CRP News. Colorado Public Radio. RetrievedSeptember 22, 2023.Mackay calls that shoulder route, "a facade, an appearance, a deceit, a contrivance," and said it's still "triggering" to see those bike route signs today. He said Roskowski and other bicycle advocates should have done a better job of holding the city to its initial commitment to build a separated path. Moreover, he said, it could still be built. "Blow the dust off the plans, freshen up the estimate based on current costs, and go build it," he said.
^"Passenger Traffic Reports". Denver: City & County of Denver Department of Aviation.Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. RetrievedDecember 4, 2017.
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