Why Denver Built a New Airport

DEN is adjacent to the snow-capped Rockies and is located on the western edge of the Great Plains.

Although Denver International Airport (DEN) opened to the public in 1995, it remains the newest major airport in the United States. It's now the third-busiest in America and replaced the former Stapleton Airport. With an existing international airport already operating, many wondered why Denver opted to build this brand-new facility, especially one located further from the city. But, as it turns out, this choice was a smart and forward-thinking move. Ultimately, commercial aviation in the Mile High City simply outgrew the Stapleton Airport. Plagued with noise complaints, lawsuits, and congestion, the airport proved to be woefully inadequate. The opening of the new airport positioned the city to become a modern aviation powerhouse, and it continues to grow, handling passenger volumes far beyond Stapleton's capabilities. 

Two United Airlines Boeing 757-200s performed a farewell fly-by over the Stapleton Airport in 1995.

The former airport was located in Denver's Stapleton neighborhood, which was surrounded by residential areas and businesses. The airport's location close to downtown Denver proved to be convenient for travelers, especially compared to the location of today's airport. However, this central location also meant that Stapleton Airport was severely limited in expanding its runways and facilities. In other words, the airport was boxed in. In fact, Stapleton was in such an urbanized area that roadways were built under the airport's runways. Interstate 70, a major highway that cuts directly through the Denver area, was directed under the airfield, making for a memorable trip for most motorists traveling through the area. The sight of massive jets traveling over the roadway became an everyday sight. 

After 65 years of service, Stapleton handled 33.5 million passengers in its final year of operation.

In addition to limited expansion opportunities due to urban sprawl, Stapleton also saw increasing passenger numbers, challenging the airport's existing infrastructure. Stapleton served as a major hub for the original Frontier Airlines, which was eventually acquired by PeopleExpress. Continental and United also operated hubs at Stapleton, making the airport an important aviation hub for a variety of carriers. Increasing passenger volumes from hub operations further challenged Stapleton's facilities. Given Stapleton Airport's proximity to residential neighborhoods, airport operations had to follow noise abatement procedures. However, even with these in place, residents of the surrounding neighborhoods sued the airport over noise. These problems would only worsen as the airport grew, threatening the city's aviation expansion ambitions. To make matters worse, Stapleton had very little room to extend its terminals, taxiways, and runways. This, like its noise complaints, made growing near impossible, making Denver a potentially less attractive market in which to build a hub. Fewer runways also made the airport more susceptible to prolonged delays in adverse weather conditions, such as severe blizzards and thunderstorms.

The thriving Central Park neighborhood of Denver grew out of the former site of Stapleton Airport.

These challenges required a solution beyond what Stapleton Airport could provide. So, in 1989, voters approved building a brand-new airport in Adams County. This new facility would later become one of the busiest airports in the world and a critical hub for commercial aviation in the United States.The former grounds of Stapleton Airport have since been transformed to better serve the citizens of Denver. Most traces of the airport have been removed since the facility closed its doors in 1995, and now, Stapleton is a lively residential neighborhood east of downtown Denver. The area has since been renamed Central Park, though many native Denver residents still know it as Stapleton.

Art installations, local dining and shopping options as well as outdoor patios can all be found at DEN.

While building a new airport from scratch was an expensive and time-consuming task for the city of Denver, it proved to be a very smart decision for city leaders. Today, Denver International Airport handles more passengers than Stapleton could have hoped to accommodate. In 2024, DEN welcomed over 80 million travelers, making it the third-busiest in the United States. Perhaps even more impressively, at 33,531 acres, the airport covers more land than some major US cities, including Boston, Miami and San Francisco. As the largest airport in the Western Hemisphere by land area, DEN still has room to grow, and continues to expand its long-haul network. The airport is currently working toward its Vision 100 initiative, which aims to prepare it to handle over 100 million passengers in the coming years. As part of these efforts, the airport's Jeppesen Terminal is in the midst of a major renovation to create a modern travel experience for passengers. This includes updated check-in desks, more dining options, and state-of-the-art security checkpoints, one of which is already open with the second expected to open shortly.

United is the only US airline offering trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific service from Denver International.

Much like Stapleton Airport had three primary operators (United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and the original Frontier Airlines), today's Denver market is also dominated by three major competitors. United is the only airline that remains from the original three. The carrier has a massive presence at Denver's facilities, including a large maintenance hangar, cargo facility, and pilot training campus minutes from the airport. United purchased 113 acres near the airport in 2023 for approximately $33 million. While initially intended for a satellite pilot training facility, the exact plans are still developing. The airline has indicated the possibility of building over one million square feet of office space to accommodate more than 6,000 employees, potentially signaling a move of its headquarters from Chicago. This land purchase is part of United's broader investment in its Denver hub, which is its fastest-growing. 

Southwest is a major Denver carrier with a large operation while Frontier is headquartered there.

Trailing United in size is Southwest Airlines, according to US Department of Transportation statistics. Today, Denver is Southwest's busiest station, and was the first Southwest base to surpass 300 daily flights. The airline also maintains a maintenance facility at the airport, as well a brand-new training center, cargo facility, and provisioning center. Frontier Airlines trails both Southwest and United in terms of market share, but arguably is the best-connected with the city of Denver. Frontier is based in the Mile High City, and operates its busiest base out of Denver's Concourse A. The ultra-low-cost carrier has created a distinct brand by offering rock-bottom fares and displaying animals on its aircraft tails, which are even visible from roads leading to Denver's East Terminal. 

DEN is on track to reach 100 million passengers annually by 2027, years ahead of its prior schedule. 

While Stapleton Airport served Denver adequately in the formative years of commercial aviation, the airport was simply not positioned well to leverage the city's long-term aviation growth opportunities. Its congested facilities and proximity to residential neighborhoods forced planners to build a new airport, which has served the city of Denver well. With several long-term initiatives in place to prepare the airport to handle ever-increasing passenger volumes, Denver International Airport has the facilities, space, and flexibility to accommodate passenger volumes far beyond what Stapleton could have ever hoped to accomplish. 

With a growing portfolio of international routes and services, including Dublin and Istanbul which were added last year, the Denver Airport has proven to be capable of connecting the area to the world.

Until next time…safe travels.