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Denver International Airport

Sunset in Denver, Colorado

About Denver International Airport

Denver International Airport opened in 1995 and is an international airport primarily serving metropolitan Denver, Colorado, western USA. The airport is the largest in North America by total land area and the third largest in the world.

Denver International Airport, which is referred to locally as DIA, currently offers a non-stop service to 215 destinations, on 23 different airlines throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. The airport is a major hub for Frontier Airlines and United Airlines. It is a main operating base for Southwest Airlines. The airport is located 40km (25 miles) northeast of Denver.

The Master Plan

The airport is currently under expansion plans, with a short term plan (2015-2020) including adding a seventh runway, expanding the concourse with over 20 gates, and improving internal operations. The long term plan (up to 2035) include increasing the number of runways to 10, adding 100 gates, and increasing airline operational capacity.

Facilities

Facilities Include:

Denver International Airport offers more than 170 shops, restaurants and services, including newsstands, bookstores, gift shops, a travel agency, and fast-food outlets. Tax and duty-free shops are located in concourses A and B for international passengers. There is a post office on level 6. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.

Each concourse provides Automated Teller Machines and change machines, telephone banks and flight information display monitors.

An interfaith chapel is open 24 hours and located on level 6 and there are nursing rooms within all concourses. There is also a pet relief area inside the terminal on Level 2, and at A, B, an C gates.

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Lounges Include:

American Airlines Admirals Club: Enjoy snacks and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, WiFi, workstations, television, and a comfortable lounge. To enter, passengers will need to present an Admirals Club membership, or there is the option to pay at the door if space is available, as long as you’re flying with American Airlines.

Delta Sky Club: Enjoy snacks and alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks, WiFi, television, newspapers, magazines and a comfortable lounge. To enter, you must be a member of the Delta Sky Club.

United Club: Entrance includes drinks and snacks, WiFi, telephone, television, faxing and conference facilities, and comfortable seating. Use your United Club membership or pay at the door with your United ticket.

USO Lounge: Enjoy snacks and drinks, WiFi, comfortable seating, a kids play area with video games and football table, children's play area, television, cell phones, a library, and a sleeping area with recliners. The USO Lounge welcomes all active members of the U.S. military and their families at no cost. For more information, check out our guide to US Military Flights.

Runways

The airport currently has six runways. There are four north-south (17R/35L, 17L/35R, 16R/34L and 16L/34R) and two east-west (8/26 and 7/25). Runway number 6 (16R/34L) is the latest addition and is the longest commercial runway in North America, and can accommodate the new generation of massive planes, including the Airbus A380.

Terminals

The Jeppesen Terminal at DEN features 1.5 million square feet of space. The peaked roof design is internationally recognised and was designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects. The design is reflective of snow-capped mountains and evokes the early history of Colorado.

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

Concourse A serves the following airlines: British Airways, Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Frontier JetExpress, Great Lakes Airlines, Hooters Air, JetBlue Airways, Lufthansa, Mesa Airlines, Mexicana, Ted, and United Airlines. It contains gates A24-A61.
Concourse B serves the following airlines: Air Canada, United Airlines, and United Express. It contains gates B15-B61.
Concourse C serves the following airlines: AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, American Airlines, ATA Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Horizon Air, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and US Airways. It contains gates C30-C49.

Airlines that fly to Denver International Airport

The following airlines use Denver as a hub, or focus city:

  • United Airlines - United Airlines operates and extensive domestic network to destinations within the USA.
  • United Express - United Express operates and extensive domestic network to destinations within the USA.
  • Frontier Airlines - Frontier Airlines operates and extensive domestic network to destinations within the USA.
  • Boutique Air - Alamosa (CO), Chadron, Cortez, Dodge City, McCook, Telluride
  • Southwest Airlines - Southwest Airlines operates and extensive domestic network to destinations within the USA.

Other airlines that fly to Denver International Airport:

Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, American Airlines, American Eagle, Spirit Airlines, British Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Denver Air Connection, Icelandair, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Sun Country Airlines, Volaris, WestJet

How to get to Denver International Airport

By bus

RTD public bus services depart from the ground level of the terminal at the DEN transit area. The bus serves numerous destinations in and around Denver. The journey time to central Denver is approximately one hour. A day pass can be purchased for $9 USD.

By shuttle

A number of providers offer shared rife services. These can be found on level 5. Rates will vary depending on provider. Many hotels also offer complimentary shuttle bus services.

By taxi

Taxi pick-up and drop-off areas can be found on level 5. A flat rate of $55.57 USD applies to Denver city centre. Other routes will be charged by the metre.

By rail

Denver International Airport is connected to Denver Union Station via a commuter rail service, known as the A Line. The airport station is under the Westin Denver Hotel. The journey takes 40 minutes and trains run every 15 minutes (every 30 minutes in the evening and early morning).

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