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Denver International Airport Fun Facts
Nestled in among the Rocky Mountains sits Colorado which is famed for its geographical beauty that offers a contrast between mountains for skiing and deserts with mighty sand dunes; just to the north within the state is the capital city of Denver, here you will find plenty of history, impressive scenery, and one of the most famous airports in the world.
Before Denver International Airport came to be, Denver and the surrounding areas were serviced by Stapleton International Airport. Stapleton opened in 1929, and for many years, due to its perfect location in the west of the United States, it was extremely successful with many airlines using this airport as their hub. However, by the early 1980’s it was recognized that Stapleton was no longer big enough to handle the number of planes and passengers passing through annually; additionally, with commercial planes being built to be bigger than ever, it was noted they were struggling to maneuver on the narrow runways, and land in bad weather, so motions were put in place for a new airport.
In 1983 the Mayor of Denver, Federico Peña, started working on plans to invest money into expanding Stapleton rather than build a new airport, to save money. The land was bought in the north of the airport in order to create new runways, but a discovery of toxic waste in the area meant that a new airport would have to be built, from scratch, in a different location.
In 1989 the location was chosen and work began on Denver International Airport, with a view to be finished by 1993. Nevertheless, delays caused mostly by striking workers pushed the opening to 1994, then after a preview of the airport and its facilities ends in mayhem when the automated baggage system dramatically fails and sends luggage and clothes flying around the runways, the opening is delayed once again to 1995.
Insanely over-budget, and about 16 months later than planned, on February 28th, 1995, finally, Denver International Airport is opened for business, with Stapleton International now officially closed, having made its final flight the day before.
Despite the fact that initially, fewer airlines were using Denver International compared to Stapleton, (although there were far fewer delays occurring across the board at Denver International in comparison) a sixth and final runway is funded with a view to adding it in the future.
Over time the popularity of the new airport steadily increased and by 1999 it was being used by a record 38 million passengers, and following on from the ever-increasing plane traffic taking off and landing, the sixth runway is constructed in 2003, which ended up being North America’s longest runway at roughly three miles long.
In the following years, the airport’s facilities are kept up to date, and tight security is made a priority when in 2008 Denver International becomes one of America’s first airports to add body imaging technology, a new technology that scans passengers for explosives or weapons.
Expansion is constantly happening at Denver International Airport, and what is considered to be a relatively new airport having only been opened twenty-five years ago, currently has six runways, and 138 gates within two terminals with each terminal connected to three concourses. Nowadays, an estimated 65 million passengers pass through the airport annually making it one of the busiest airports in the world.
Who funded Denver International Airport?
The funding for the airport had to come from various sources, largely because the cost to complete the project was so huge. A big part of the funding was using profits from Stapleton International, with the rest being made up of aviation grants, airport bonds, and city grants. The total cost of the airport was estimated to be about 4.8 billion dollars which was two billion dollars over the planned budget.
Who owns Denver International Airport?
The airport is owned and operated by the city and the county of Denver. The city’s Department of Aviation is in charge of all the running operations, costs, and planning, with the manager of the department reporting into the Mayor of Denver.
How big is Denver International Airport?
The airport occupies roughly fifty-two square miles of land, to put this into perspective this is the equivalent of the size of Manhattan and then half again; Denver International is the largest airport in the United States by land area.
What can you do if you have a layover at Denver International Airport?
Having a layover at Denver is never something to not look forward to, the huge area it covers means there is an abundance of things to keep yourself entertained while you wait for your flight. Food is always a great place to start, Denver has various options for all times of the day, and has a range of restaurants, fast food, and bar food. If you are in the mood for a spot of shopping, the airport has you covered, with boutiques, souvenir shops, and even a book shop to help you pass the time. For a more relaxing time you can choose between massages, pedicures, manicures, relaxing in the airport lounges or to top it off you can spend time with the Canine Airport Therapy Squad if you are feeling a little stressed or you are a nervous flyer. For everything else, you can ride the free underground train, check out the Colorado Aviation displays along the skywalk between the Jeppesen terminal and concourse A, catch up on some sleep at the airport hotel, or spend as much time as you can outside the airport by taking a quick trip in to the city to soak up the fresh mountain air and spectacular views. Oh, and if it is your thing, then explore the different murals and monuments that are in the airport, all of which supposedly hold secret meanings.
Once you experience Denver International Airport for yourself, you will be amazed at the efficiency of an airport that is larger than a lot of cities, the airport is a joy to visit and true modern wonder.
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