On February 28, 1995, a new era of aviation excellence began at Denver International Airport (DEN).
Since opening three decades ago, DEN has positioned itself as an essential part of the national air traffic system and as one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is also Colorado’s largest economic driver, contributing $47.2 billion annually to the state economy and supporting 244,172 jobs.
“It’s a celebratory day as we look back on thirty years of memories, innovation and growth while remaining focused on the future,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “DEN is so much more than an airport; it is the economic lifeblood of the Rocky Mountain West and the largest employer in Colorado. As we move toward serving 100 million annual passengers, we will continue to honor the legacy of the visionaries who built this airport by thoughtfully and strategically preparing for the future of innovation and excellence.”
DEN has experienced tremendous growth in the past 30 years.
DEN recently celebrated 82.35 million annual passengers, up from 33.1 million in 1994. The year 1994 was the last full year Stapleton International Airport was in operation. There are now 1,835 average daily flights at DEN. In 1994, there were 1,400 daily flights on average. The current airport covers 53 square miles (the largest in the U.S. and second largest in the world). Stapleton covered just 7.3 square miles. Today, DEN has 173 gates. Stapleton closed with 109 gates.
In 1982, before being elected mayor, Federico Peña challenged Denver to “imagine a great city.” His plan envisioned an expanded airport. Since then, DEN has celebrated many milestones.
