Denver International (DEN)

America's youngest major airport and one of the world's ten busiest, with land banked for double today's operation.
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Denver International (DEN) at a glance

IATA / ICAO
DEN/KDEN
Passengers (2024)
82.4 million (2024)
Runways
6
Hub for
Southwest Airlines,United Airlines

Denver International Airport is the newest major airport in the United States, opened in 1995, and now one of the ten busiest in the world, handling 82.4 million passengers in 2024 and holding its global top-ten place again in 2025. Its 135 square kilometer footprint is the largest of any airport in the Americas, master-planned for up to 12 runways against today's six.

Denver thrives on a three-way contest: United's hub at Concourse B, Southwest's largest station at Concourse C and a big Frontier base keep fares low and traffic booming, growth that has outpaced almost every US rival since the pandemic. The Vision 100 programme is expanding all three concourses and the Great Hall to ready the airport for 100 million passengers.

Hub & base airlines

Each airline below links to its AeroTime reference page.
Airline Role Terminal
United Airlines Hub Concourse B
Southwest Airlines Largest station in the network Concourse C

Terminals & infrastructure

Denver's tented Jeppesen Terminal, evoking the Rockies, feeds three concourses via an underground train, and its 135 square kilometer site, the largest of any US airport, leaves room for expansion toward 12 runways. Its 16R/34L is the longest commercial runway in North America at 4,877 meters, and the Vision 100 programme is adding gates for 100 million passengers.

Full specifications

Official name
Denver International Airport
Operator
City and County of Denver Department of Aviation
Opened
1995
Runways
6
Terminals
1 terminal, 3 concourses
Passengers (2024)
82.4 million (2024)
Distance to city
40 km northeast of downtown Denver

Frequently asked questions

Why is Denver's airport so far from the city?

Its 1995 builders bought a vast greenfield site 40 km out to allow unlimited expansion; the 135 square kilometer footprint remains the largest of any US airport, with room for six more runways.

Which airlines hub at Denver?

United operates a major hub, Southwest its largest station anywhere, and Frontier is headquartered there, a rare three-way contest that keeps the airport growing.

What is the longest runway at Denver?

Runway 16R/34L, at 4,877 meters the longest commercial runway in North America, built for hot-and-high heavy departures.