Denver International Airport
File:Denver International Airport Logo.png
IATA: DEN ICAO: KDEN FAA LID: DEN WMO: 72565
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	City & County of Denver Department of Aviation
Operator	City & County of Denver Department of Aviation
Serves	Denver, the Front Range Urban Corridor, Eastern Colorado, Southeastern Wyoming, and the Nebraska Panhandle
Location	Northeastern Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Hub for	Frontier Airlines United Airlines
Focus city for	Boutique Air Southwest Airlines
Elevation AMSL	5,431 ft / 1,655 m
Coordinates	39°51′42″N 104°40′23″W / 39.86167°N 104.67306°W / 39.86167; -104.67306
Website	http://www.flydenver.com
Map
DEN Location of airport in Colorado / United States Show map of Colorado DEN DEN (the United States) Show map of the United States
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 7/25 12,000 3,658 Concrete 8/26 12,000 3,658 Concrete 16L/34R 12,000 3,658 Concrete 16R/34L 16,000 4,877 Concrete 17L/35R 12,000 3,658 Concrete 17R/35L 12,000 3,658 Concrete
Statistics (2018)
Passengers 64,494,613 Aircraft operations 603,403 Economic impact (2013) $26.3 billion[1]
Source: Denver International Airport[2]

Denver International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN), locally referred to as DIA,^[3] is an international airport primarily serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, United States as well as the greater Front Range Urban Corridor. At 33,531 acres (13,570 ha, 52.4 sq mi),^[4] it is the largest airport in North America by total land area and the second largest in the world.^[5] Runway 16R/34L, with a length of 16,000 feet (4,877 m), is the longest public use runway in North America and the seventh longest in the world. With over 35,000 employees, the airport is the largest employer in Colorado.

Denver currently has non-stop service to 205 destinations throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. It is the fourth airport in the United States to reach the 200 marker.^[6] It also has the 2nd largest domestic network of any airport in the country with flights to around 185 U.S. destinations. As of 2018^[update], DIA is the 20th busiest airport in the world and the fifth busiest in the United States by passenger traffic handling 64,494,613 passengers.

The airport is a major hub for Frontier Airlines, United Airlines, and is a main operating base for Southwest Airlines. These three airlines' combined operations made up about 85% of the total passenger traffic at DIA as of December 2018^[update].^[2]

History

Denver has traditionally been home to one of the busier airports in the nation because of its location. Many airlines including United Airlines, Western Airlines, the old Frontier Airlines and People Express were hubbed at the old Stapleton International Airport, and there was also a significant Southwest Airlines operation. In addition, Stapleton had transatlantic charter services from Martinair, Condor, and Monarch Airlines among others at the time of closure, which was followed by Korean Air and LTU International once DIA opened. At times, Stapleton was a hub for three or four airlines. The main reasons that justified the construction of the new DIA included the fact that gate space was severely limited at Stapleton; its runways were unable to deal efficiently with Denver's weather and wind patterns, causing nationwide travel disruption.

From 1980 to 1983, the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) investigated six areas for a new metro area airport that were north and east of Denver. In September 1989, under the leadership of Denver Mayor Federico Peña, federal officials authorized the outlay of the first $60 million (equivalent to $147 million today) for the construction of DIA. Two years later, Mayor Wellington Webb inherited the megaproject, scheduled to open on October 29, 1993.^[7]

Delays caused by poor planning and repeated design changes due to changing requirements from United Airlines caused Mayor Webb to push 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 15, 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, while the actuators that moved luggage from belt to belt would often toss the luggage right off the system instead. The mayor cancelled the planned May 15 opening. The baggage system continued to be a maintenance hassle and was finally terminated in September 2005,^[8] with traditional baggage handlers manually handling cargo and passenger luggage.

On September 25, 1994, the airport hosted a fly-in that drew several hundred general aviation aircraft, providing pilots with a unique opportunity to operate in and out of the new airport, and to wander around on foot looking at the ground-side facilities—including the baggage system, which was still under testing. FAA controllers also took advantage of the event to test procedures, and to check for holes in radio coverage as planes taxied around and among the buildings. DIA finally replaced Stapleton on February 28, 1995, 16 months behind schedule and at a cost of $4.8 billion (equivalent to $9.6 billion today),^[9] nearly $2 billion over budget ($4 billion today).^[10] The construction employed 11,000 workers.^[11] United Airlines Flight 1062 to Kansas City International Airport was the first to depart and United Flight 1474 from Colorado Springs Airport was the first to arrive.^[10]

After the airport's runways were completed but before it opened, the airport used the codes (IATA: DVX, ICAO: KDVX). DIA later took over (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN) as its codes from Stapleton when the latter airport closed. During the blizzard of March 17–19, 2003, the weight of heavy snow tore a hole in the terminal's white fabric roof. Over two feet of snow on the paved areas closed the airport (and its main access road, Peña Boulevard) for almost two days. Several thousand people were stranded at DIA.^[12][13]

In 2004, DIA was ranked first in major airports for on-time arrivals according to the FAA. Another blizzard on December 20 and 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.^[14] Following that blizzard, 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 2014. As part of the original design of the airport the city specified passenger volume "triggers" that would lead to a redevelopment of the master plan and possible new construction to make sure the airport is able to meet Denver's needs.^[15] The city hit its first-phase capacity threshold in 2008, and DIA is currently revising the master plan. As part of the master plan update, the airport announced selection of Parsons Corporation to design a new hotel, rail station and two bridges leading into the main terminal. The airport has the ability to add up to six additional runways, bringing the total number of runways to 12. Once fully built out, DIA should be able to handle 110 million passengers per year, up from 32 million at its opening.

On September 9, 2015, a political campaign was launched by Mayor Michael Hancock to radically expand commercial development at DIA, development previously prohibited by intergovernmental agreement between Denver and Adams County.^[16] The changes to the agreement were approved by both Denver and Adams County voters in November 2015.^[17] On November 19, 2015 the first part of a Hotel and Transit Center, the hotel, opened adjacent to the Jeppesen Terminal. On April 22, 2016, commuter rail service to the Hotel and Transit Center from Denver Union Station began.

Geography

The airport is 25 miles (40 km) driving distance from downtown Denver,^[18] which is 19 miles (31 km) farther away than Stapleton International Airport, the airport it replaced.^[10] The distant location was chosen to avoid aircraft noise affecting developed areas, to accommodate a generous runway layout that would not be compromised by blizzards, and to allow for future expansion.

The 52.4 square miles (136 km²; 33,500 acres)^[4] of land occupied by the airport is more than one and a half times the size of Manhattan (33.6 square miles or 87 square kilometres). DIA is by far the largest land area commercial airport in the United States.^[4] Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is a distant second at 27.0 square miles (70 km²). The land was transferred from Adams County to Denver after a 1989 vote,^[19] increasing the city's size by 50 percent and bifurcating the western portion of the neighboring county. As a result, the Adams County cities of Aurora, Brighton, and Commerce City are actually closer to the airport than much of Denver. All freeway traffic accessing the airport from central Denver leaves the city and passes through Aurora for just shy of 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.

Facilities

Terminal

Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation safety pioneer Elrey Jeppesen, is the land side of the airport. Road traffic accesses the airport directly off of Peña Boulevard, which in turn is fed by Interstate 70 and E-470. Two covered and uncovered parking areas are directly attached to the terminal – four garages and an economy parking lot on the east side; and four garages and an economy lot on the west side.

The main terminal has six official floors, connected by elevators and escalators. Floors 1–3 comprise the lowest levels of the parking garages as well as the economy lots on both sides of the terminal. Floor 4 contains passenger pickup, as well as short-term and long-term parking. Floor 5 is used for parking as well as drop offs and pickups for taxis and shuttles to rental car lots and off-site parking. The fifth floor also contains the baggage carousels and security checkpoints. Floor 6 is used for passenger drop off and check-in counters. Passengers are routed first to airline ticket counters or kiosks on the sixth floor for checking in.

DIA has three midfield concourses, spaced far apart. 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. Once in 1998 and again once in 2012, the train system encountered technical problems and shut down for several hours, creating tremendous back-logs of passengers in the main terminal since no pedestrian walkways exist between the terminal and the B and C Concourses. On both occasions, buses had to be used because of the train problems.^[20]

In 2018, work began on a major interior renovation and reconfiguration including the beginning phases of construction to relocate two out of the three TSA security checkpoints from the Great Hall on Level 5 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. This will bring back the original intent and use of the Great Hall as a large commons area for airport patrons and visitors to enjoy. This phased project, along with a 39 gate expansion project to all three concourses, is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 with a total price tag of around $3.5 billion.^[21] When both the terminal renovation and concourse expansions are completed, the airport should be able to handle upwards of 90 million passengers per year.^[22]

Concourse A has 38 gates.^[23] Twelve of these gates are equipped to handle international arrivals, and five gates are equipped to handle wide-body aircraft, of which two have twin jet bridges labeled A and B. Concourse A handles all international arrivals at the airport (excluding airports with border preclearance), as well as the departing flights of all international carriers serving Denver. Furthermore, all domestic airlines, except for Alaska, Southwest, Spirit, and United, use this concourse, with Frontier Airlines having the largest presence.

At the time of the airport's opening, Concourse A was to be solely used by Continental Airlines for its Denver hub. However, due to its emergence from bankruptcy, as well as fierce competition from United Airlines, Continental chose to dismantle its hub immediately after the opening, and only operated a handful of gates on A, before eventually moving to Concourse B prior to its merger with United.^[24]

Two airline lounges are located on the top floor of the central section of Concourse A: the shared American Airlines Admirals Club/British Airways Executive Club Lounge, and a Delta Air Lines Sky Club, the latter of which opened in 2016 in the location of the former USO lounge which relocated to a larger space nearby.^[25]

In May 2018, construction began on a 12-gate expansion to the west end of Concourse A. The first five gates are expected to be completed by June 2020 with the remaining project to be completed by December 2020. Some of the new gates will be additional gates capable of handling larger wide-body aircraft for international flights with direct access to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In early 2018 a temporary concourse extension opened at the east end of A. This will be primarily used by United Airlines for regional planes while work to Concourse B - that requires demolishing a 12-gate regional finger on its east end making way for a second regional jet concourse - takes place. This extension to Concourse A is expected to be removed in late 2020 once construction work to Concourse B finishes. When finished, gate capacity in Concourse A will be increased by nearly 32% to 50 gates.

Concourse B has 70 gates.^[23] United Airlines is the sole occupant of Concourse B. Mainline United flights operate from the main concourse building, whereas United Express operations are primarily handled at the east end of the concourse, which currently includes two concourse extensions for smaller regional planes. Four B gates near the center of the concourse are equipped to handle wide-body aircraft and each have twin jet bridges labeled A and B.

Former tenants of Concourse B include Continental Airlines and US Airways. Both airlines relocated there in November 2009 after United reached an agreement with DIA to allocate five gates at the western end of the concourse for use by its domestic Star Alliance partners. United would regain control of the three Continental gates after the merger between the two airlines. And as in February 2015, US Airways relocated the operations of their two gates to Concourse A as part of its merger process with American Airlines.^[26]

There are two United Clubs on the second floor of Concourse B, situated about an equal distance away from the people mover station: one near gate B32 and the other near gate B44.

In May 2018, construction began on an 11-gate expansion to Concourse B. Four regular gates will be added to the west end and seven regional gates to the east end ultimately creating a 2nd regional jet concourse extension mirroring an existing one that opened in 2007. Completion is expected by May 2020. When finished, gate capacity in Concourse B will be increased by nearly 16% to 81 gates.

Concourse C has 29 gates. Southwest Airlines is the primary occupant of the concourse with only two other airlines; Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines utilizing the concourse. A 2014 expansion added five new gates to the west end of the concourse. The expansion, at a cost of $46 million, allowed Southwest to consolidate all of its operations onto Concourse C (prior to the expansion, Southwest was using two gates on Concourse A, which it had inherited from its merger with AirTran Airways).^[27]

In early 2018 it was announced that American Express would be opening a 14,650 square-foot Centurion Lounge in the upper level of the eastern wing of Concourse C. The lounge is expected to open sometime in 2019 and will be the second largest of its kind once open.

In May 2018, construction began on a 16-gate expansion to the east end of Concourse C. The project is expected to be completed by January 2021. When finished, gate capacity in Concourse C will be increased by nearly 55% to 45 gates.

Hotel and Transit Center

The DIA Hotel and Transit Center is made up of three integrated functional areas: hotel, public land transportation, and public plaza. Construction of the $544 million project began on October 5, 2011^[28][29] and was completed April 2016. The project directly connects a hotel and transit center to the Jeppesen terminal and includes a commuter rail train station, run by Regional Transportation District (RTD), and a 519-room hotel and conference center, run by Westin Hotels & Resorts. The hotel opened November 19, 2015^[30] and the commuter rail service began on April 22, 2016. Gensler and AndersonMasonDale Architects were the project architects. The project builder was MHS, a tri-venture composed of Mortenson Construction, Hunt Construction, and Saunders Construction.^[31] The rail station is located underneath the hotel with a weather-protection canopy extending 150 foot (46 m) south from the hotel and over the tracks. The rail service provides a direct connection between downtown Denver Union Station and the airport. There is also room for additional future rail lines. Ten bus bays are located under the hotel and adjacent to the transit center/rail lines providing connections for RTD regional buses to Aurora, Boulder, and Westminster as well as shuttle bus service for economy lots and airport employees. An 82,000 square-foot public plaza between the hotel and main terminal is a venue for arts and entertainment, and provides an area for travelers and visitors to relax and enjoy art, food, drinks, seasonal outdoor activities, sunshine, and panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains to the west and the Great Plains to the east without having to leave the airport.^[32] The plaza is operated by Denver Arts and Venues, the City and County of Denver agency that operates Denver-owned entertainment venues.

Ground transportation

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates three bus routes under the frequent airport express bus service called skyRide, as well as one Express bus route and one Limited bus route, between DIA and various locations throughout the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas. RTD also operates the University of Colorado A Line, a commuter rail line that runs between the airport and Union Station in Downtown Denver.

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.

The Regional Transportation District's airport rail link is an electric commuter rail line that runs from Denver Union Station to the DIA Hotel and Transit Center. Under a sponsorship agreement called "University of Colorado A Line" and also called the "East Rail Line" connects passengers between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport in about 37 minutes. The line connects to RTD's rail service that runs throughout the metro area. The A Line is a 22.8-mile commuter rail transit corridor connecting these two important areas while serving adjacent employment centers, neighborhoods and development areas in Denver and Aurora. The A Line was constructed and funded as part of the Eagle P3 public-private partnership and opened for service on April 22, 2016.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Cargo

Statistics

Top destinations

Busiest domestic routes from DEN (January 2018 - December 2018)^[69]

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Los Angeles, California	1,208,400	American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United
2	Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona	1,048,920	American, Frontier, Southwest, United
3	Chicago–O'Hare, Illinois	989,300	American, Frontier, Spirit, United
4	Las Vegas, Nevada	973,950	Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United
5	San Francisco, California	940,140	Frontier, Southwest, United
6	Seattle/Tacoma, Washington	935,350	Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
7	Atlanta, Georgia	826,180	Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, United
8	Salt Lake City, Utah	819,400	Delta, Frontier, Southwest, United
9	Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota	813,060	Delta, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United
10	Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas	786,620	American, Frontier, Spirit, United

Busiest international routes from DEN (Jan. 2017 – Dec. 2017)^[70]

Rank	Airport	2017 Passengers	Carriers
1	Cancún, Mexico	447,000	Frontier, Southwest, United
2	Vancouver, Canada	224,239	Air Canada, United
3	Toronto–Pearson, Canada	221,310	Air Canada, United
4	Frankfurt, Germany	214,983	Lufthansa
5	London–Heathrow, United Kingdom	195,764	British Airways
6	Calgary, Canada	173,468	Frontier, United, WestJet
7	San José del Cabo, Mexico	165,357	Frontier, Southwest, United
8	Puerto Vallarta, Mexico	164,256	Frontier, Southwest, United
9	Munich, Germany	152,386	Lufthansa
10	Tokyo–Narita, Japan	138,975	United

Annual traffic

Annual passenger traffic (enplaned + deplaned) at DEN, 1995 through 2018^[71][72]

Year	Passengers	Change	Year	Passengers	Change	Year	Passengers	Change
1995	31,067,498 (a)		2005	43,387,369	02.6%	2015	54,014,502	01.0%
1996	32,296,174	04.0%	2006	47,326,506	09.1%	2016	58,266,515	07.9%
1997	34,969,837	08.3%	2007	49,863,352	05.4%	2017	61,379,396	05.3%
1998	36,831,400	05.3%	2008	51,245,334	02.8%	2018	64,494,613	05.1%
1999	38,034,017	03.2%	2009	50,167,485	02.1%
2000	38,751,687	01.9%	2010	51,985,038	03.6%
2001	36,092,806	06.9%	2011	52,849,132	01.7%
2002	35,652,084	01.2%	2012	53,156,278	00.6%
2003	37,505,267	05.2%	2013	52,556,359	01.1%
2004	42,275,913	012.7%	2014	53,472,514	01.7%

(a) Passenger totals for first two months of 1995 reflect operations at Stapleton International Airport.

Since the airport's opening in March 1995 through the end of 2018, over 1.1 billion passengers (enplaned+deplaned) have gone through DEN. This represents an average of over 46.2 million passengers annually.

Commercial Airline Market Share

Features

Aesthetics

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. DIA is also known for a pedestrian bridge connecting the terminal to Concourse A that allows travelers to view planes taxiing beneath them and has views of the Rocky Mountains to the West and the high plains to the East.

Art

Both during construction and after opening, DIA has set aside a portion of its construction and operation budgets for art. Gargoyles hiding in suitcases are present above exit doors from baggage claims. The corridor from the main terminal and Concourse A usually contains additional temporary exhibits. Finally, a number of different public art works are present in the underground train that links the main terminal with concourses.

Blue Mustang

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 (9.8 m) tall Blue Mustang is a bright blue cast-fiberglass sculpture with glowing red eyes located between the inbound and outbound lanes of Peña Boulevard.^[74] Jiménez was killed in 2006 at age 65 while creating the sculpture when 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.^[75] The statue has been the subject of considerable controversy, and has acquired the nickname Blucifer for its demonic appearance.^[76][77]

Other

Other DIA Art Commissions have been awarded to artists Leo Tanguma, Gary Sweeney,^[78] and Gary Yazzie.^[79]

DIA's Art Collection was recently honored by the publishers of USA TODAY, for being of the ten best airports for public art^[80] in the United States.

The airport also features a bronze statue of astronaut, Congressman-elect and Denver native Jack Swigert. Swigert, who flew on Apollo 13 as Command Module Pilot, 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.^[81]

Solar energy system

Denver International Airport currently has four solar photovoltaic arrays on airport property, with a total capacity of 10 megawatts or 16 million kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually.^[82]

Solar I

In mid 2008, Denver International Airport inaugurated a $13 million (equivalent to $18.4 million today) solar farm situated on 7.5 acres (330,000 sq ft; 30,000 m²) directly south of Jeppesen Terminal between Peña Boulevard's inbound and outbound lanes. The solar farm consists of more than 9,200 solar panels that follow the sun to maximize efficient energy production and generate more than 3.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Owned and run by a specialist independent energy company, Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, its annual output amounts to around 50% of the electricity required to operate the train system that runs between the airport's terminal and gate areas.^[83] By using this solar-generated power, DEN will reduce its carbon emissions as much as five million pounds each year.

Solar II

In December 2009, a $7 million ($9.9 million today), 1.6-megawatt solar project on approximately nine acres (390,000 sq ft; 36,000 m²) north of the airport's airfield went into operation. The array is a project that involves MP2 Capital and Oak Leaf Energy Partners generating over 2.7 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually and provides approximately 100% of the airport's fuel farm's electricity consumption.^[82]

Solar III

A third solar installation situated on 28 acres (1,200,000 sq ft; 110,000 m²), dedicated in July 2011, is a 4.4MW complex, expected to generate 6.9 million kilowatt-hours of energy. Intermountain Electric Inc. built the system, with solar panels provided by Yingli Green Energy. The power array will reportedly reduce CO2 emissions by 5,000 metric tons per year.

Solar IV

The airport added its fourth solar power array in June 2014. The $6 million system can generate up to 2MW, or 3.1 million kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually. It is located north of the airfield and provides electricity directly to the Denver Fire Department's Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) Training Academy.^[82]

Denver International Airport's four solar array systems now produce approximately six percent of the airport's total power requirements.^[84] The output makes DEN the largest distributed generation photovoltaic energy producer in the state of Colorado,^[85] and the second-largest solar array among U.S. airports.

Accidents and incidents

• On September 5, 2001, a British Airways Boeing 777 caught on fire while it was being refueled at the gate. None of the deplaning passengers or crew were injured, but the refueler servicing the aircraft died from his injuries six days after the fire. The NTSB found that the accident occurred due to a failure of the aircraft's refueling ring when the fuel hose was torn out of it at an improper angle.^[86]
• On February 16, 2007, 14 aircraft suffered windshield failures within a three-and-a-half-hour period at the airport. A total of 26 windshields on these aircraft failed. The NTSB opened an investigation, determining that foreign object damage was the cause, possibly the sharp sand used earlier that winter for traction purposes combined with wind gusts of 48 mph (77 km/h).^[87]
• On December 20, 2008, a Continental Airlines Boeing 737-500 operating as Flight 1404 to Houston–Intercontinental Airport in Houston, TX, veered off the left side of runway 34R, and caught fire, during its takeoff roll at Denver International Airport. There was no snow or ice on the runway, however there were 31-knot (36 mph; 57 km/h) crosswinds at the time of the accident. On July 13, 2010 the NTSB published that the probable cause of this accident was the captain's cessation of right rudder input, which was needed to maintain directional control of the airplane. Of the 115 people on board, at least 38 sustained injuries: at least two of these injured critically.^[88][89][90]
• On April 3, 2012, an ExpressJet Embraer ERJ-145, registration N15973, operating as Flight UA/EV-5912 from Peoria, IL to Denver, was landing on 34R when the aircraft hit the approach lights and stopped on the runway. Smoke developed inside the aircraft and passengers were evacuated onto the runway. One passenger was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries.^[91]
• On July 2, 2017, one of the engines on SkyWest Flight 5869, operating under the United Express brand name caught fire after landing from Aspen. All 59 passengers and 4 crew members were safely evacuated from the CRJ-700. No injuries were reported.^[92]

Conspiracy theories and controversy

Conspiracy theories

There are several conspiracy theories relating to the airport's design and construction such as the runways being laid out in a shape similar to a swastika. Murals painted in the baggage claim area have been claimed to contain themes referring to future military oppression and a one-world government. However, the artist, Leo Tanguma, said the murals, titled In Peace and Harmony With Nature and The Children of the World Dream of Peace, depict man-made environmental destruction and genocide along with humanity coming together to heal nature and live in peace.^[93]

Conspiracists have also seen unusual markings in the terminals in DIA and have recorded them as "Templar" markings.^[94] They have pointed to unusual words cut into the floor as being Satanic, Masonic,^[95] or some impenetrable secret code of the New World Order: Cochetopa, Sisnaajini and Dzit Dit Gaii. Two of these words are actually misspelled Navajo terms for geographical sites in Colorado. "Braaksma" and "Villarreal" are actually the names of Carolyn Braaksma and Mark Villarreal, artists who worked on the airport's sculptures and paintings.^[96]

There is a dedication marker attributed to the "New World Airport Commission", an unknown or non-existent organization. The marker is also inscribed with the Square and Compasses of the Freemasons, along with a listing of the two Grand Lodges of Freemasonry in Colorado. It is mounted over a time capsule that was sealed during the dedication of the airport, to be opened in 2094.^[97]

Robert Blaskiewicz writing for Skeptical Inquirer states that conspiracies about the airport range from the "absurd to the even more absurd". When asking airport media representatives about which conspiracies are associated with the airport, he was told: "You name a conspiracy theory and somehow we seem to be connected to it." Blaskiewicz found that contrary to claims from conspiracy theorists that DIA will not discuss these stories with the public, they also give tours of the airport.^[98]

In 2018, the airport parodied the conspiracies themselves in a series of information and publicity boards, centered around the rebuild of the Great Hall, referencing the Illuminati, Reptilians and other strange goings-on.^[99]

Land dispute

Denver and jurisdictions surrounding the airport are involved in a protracted dispute over how to develop land around the facility. Denver Mayor Michael Hancock wants to add commercial development around the airport, but officials in Adams County believe doing so violates the original agreement that allowed Denver to annex the land on which the airport sits.^[100]

See also

• Busiest airports in the United States by international passenger traffic
• Busiest airports in the United States by total passenger boardings
• List of airports in the Denver area
• List of the busiest airports in the United States
• Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition
• World's busiest airports by passenger traffic
• World's busiest airports by traffic movements
• World's busiest airports by cargo traffic
• World's busiest airports by international passenger traffic

References

External links

• Denver International Airport, official site
• FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective June 13, 2024
• Resources for this airport:
  • AirNav airport information for KDEN
  • ASN accident history for DEN
  • FlightAware airport information and live flight tracker
  • NOAA/NWS weather observations: current, past three days
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KDEN
  • FAA current DEN delay information
• Mysterious Murals and Monuments at the Denver Airport