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{{Airport title|name=Denver International Airport|}} |
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{{Airport infobox | |
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IATA=DEN | |
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ICAO=KDEN | |
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type=Public | |
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run by=City & County of Denver Department of Aviation | |
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closest town=Denver, Colorado | |
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elevation_ft=5,431 | |
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elevation_m=1,655 | |
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*[[Wikipedia:Vandalism]] |
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coordinates={{coor dms|39|51|42|N|104|40|24|W|type:airport}} |
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* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:TestTemplates] |
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runway_angle=16R/34L| |
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runway_length_f=16,000| |
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runway_length_m=4,877| |
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runway_surface=[[Concrete]] | |
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runway_angle=16L/34R| |
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runway_length_f=12,000| |
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runway_length_m=3,658| |
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runway_angle=17L/35R| |
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'''Denver International Airport''' (DIA) {{Airport codes|DEN|KDEN}} is a major international [[airport]] located in northeastern [[Denver, Colorado]] and is operated by the City and County of Denver. In 2005 it served 43,387,513 passengers, which ranks eleventh worldwide (in the past it has ranked among the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|top ten busiest airports in the world]]). Year to date (January - April 2006) DIA has handeled 14,887,971 passengers making it the 9th busiest airport worldwide for preliminary 2006. At 53 sq. miles, it is the largest airport by area in the [[United States]]. "DIA", as it is commonly known, was voted the 2005 Best Airport in North America by readers of Business Traveler Magazine. |
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The airport's distinctive white [[tensile architecture|tension fabric roof]] is designed to be reminiscent of the snow-capped [[Rocky Mountains]] in [[winter]]. It is also known for a pedestrian bridge connecting the [[airport terminal|terminal]] to Concourse A that offers a unique view of planes taxiing directly underneath. The airport is a major [[Airline hub|hub]] for [[United Airlines]] and [[Frontier Airlines]], as well as a minor hub for [[Ted (airline)|Ted]], a subsidiary of United. |
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The airport is 19.5 miles (31.5 km) further from downtown Denver than [[Stapleton International Airport]], the airport it replaced. The distant location was chosen to avoid noise impacts to developed areas, to accommodate a generous [[runway]] layout that would not be compromised by winter storms, and to allow for future expansion. The land occupied by the airport actually has twice the land area of [[Manhattan]], and was transferred from [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams County]] to Denver after a 1989 vote, increasing the city's size by 50 percent. However, much of the city of [[Aurora, Colorado|Aurora]] is actually closer to the airport than the developed portions of Denver, and all freeway traffic accessing the airport from Denver passes through Aurora. |
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DIA has public [[Wi-Fi]] access available throughout the airport provided by [[AT&T]]/[[Cingular]] [http://www.flydenver.com/guide/services.asp]. [[T-Mobile]] (T-Mobile HotSpot) service is available in the [[airport lounge]]s run by [[United Airlines|United]], [[American Airlines|American]], and [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]] airlines [http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/browse/us/2000258/2046750/p1.html]. |
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==History== |
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In September 1989, under the leadership of [[List of mayors of Denver|Denver mayor]] [[Federico Peña]], federal officials authorized the outlay of the first $60 million for the construction of DIA. Two years later, Mayor [[Wellington Webb]] inherited the project, scheduled to open on October 29, 1993. |
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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. This earned the airport the tongue-in-cheek nicknames "Delayed Indefinitely Airport" or "Denver's Imaginary Airport" using the DIA acronym. |
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In April 1994, the city invited reporters to observe the first test of the new [[Denver International Airport#Automated baggage system|automated baggage system]]. Reporters were treated to scenes of clothing and other personal effects scattered beneath the system's tracks, while the [[actuator]]s 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 [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/27/national/27denver.html?ex=1282795200&en=55c1a4d8ddb7988a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss], with traditional baggage handlers manually handling cargo and passenger luggage. |
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On September 25, 1994, the airport hosted a fly-in that drew several hundred [[general aviation]] aircraft, providing [[pilot]]s with a unique opportunity to operate into 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. [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (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. |
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DIA finally replaced Stapleton on [[February 28]], [[1995]], 16 months behind schedule and at a cost of $5.2 billion, nearly $2 billion over budget. The delays and high fees prompted [[Continental Airlines]], which had a hub at Stapleton, to back out of its plans to establish one at DIA. |
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After the airport's [[runway]]s were completed but before it opened, the airport used the IATA code '''DVX''', then later took over DEN and KDEN from Stapleton when the latter airport closed. |
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During a major [[blizzard]] in 2003, the heavy [[snow]] tore a hole in the terminal's white fabric roof. |
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In 2004, DIA was ranked first in major airports for on time arrivals according to the FAA. |
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===Automated baggage system=== |
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The airport's computerized baggage system, which was supposed to reduce flight delays, shorten waiting times at luggage carousels, and save airlines in labor costs, turned into an unmitigated failure. An opening originally scheduled for [[October 31]], [[1993]] with a single system for all three concourses turned into a [[February 28]], [[1995]] opening with separate systems for each concourse, with varying degrees of automation. |
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The system's $186 million in original construction costs grew by $1 million per day during months of modifications and repairs. Incoming flights never made use of the system, and only United, DIA's dominant airline, used it for outgoing flights. The 40-year-old company responsible for the design of the automated system ([[BAE Automated Systems]] of [[Carrollton, Texas]]), at one time responsible for 90% of the baggage systems in the U.S., was acquired in 2003. |
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The system never worked well, and in August 2005, it became [http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/26/news/denver.php public knowledge] that United would abandon the system, a decision that would save them $1 million in monthly maintenance costs. |
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==Design and expandability== |
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[[Image:Denver_International_Airport_terminal.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Denver International Airport's Signature roofline as seen from the interior.]] |
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Denver has traditionally been one of the busier airports in the nation because of its geographical location. Many airlines including [[United Airlines]], [[Continental Airlines]], [[Western Airlines]], [[TWA]], the [[Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)|old Frontier Airlines]] and [[People Express]] were hubbed in Denver and there was also a significant [[Southwest Airlines]] operation at the old [[Stapleton International Airport]]. At times, Denver was a [[airline hub|hub]] for three or four airlines. Gate space was severely limited at Stapleton, and the runways at the old Stapleton were unable to deal efficiently with Denver's weather and wind patterns, causing nationwide travel disruption. These problems were the main justification for the new airport. |
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With the construction of DIA, Denver was determined to build an airport that could be easily expanded over the next 50 years to eliminate many of the problems that had plagued [[Stapleton International Airport]]. This was achieved by designing an easily expandable midfield terminal and concourses, creating one of the most efficient airfields in the world. |
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The airfield is arranged in a pinwheel formation around the midfield terminal and concourses. This layout allows independent flow of aircraft to and from each runway without any queuing or overlap with other runways. Additional runways can be added as needed, up to a maximum of 12 runways. Denver currently has four north/south parallel runways and two east/west parallel runways. |
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[[Image:KDEN AirportDiag.png|thumb|300px|left|KDEN FAA Airport Diagram]] |
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DIA's sixth runway (16R/34L) is the longest commercial precision-instrument runway in [[North America]] with a length of 16,000 feet. Compared to other DIA runways, the extra 4,000-foot length allows fully loaded [[jumbo jet]]s to take off in Denver's mile-high altitude during summer months, thereby providing unrestricted global access for any airline using DIA. The sixth runway can also accommodate the new generation of massive airliners, including the [[Airbus A380]]. |
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The midfield concourse allows passengers to be screened in a central location efficiently and then transported via a rail system to three different passenger concourses. Unlike [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport]] upon which the midfield design was based, Concourses B and C are only accessible via [[train]] which simplifies security. |
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The [[taxiway]]s at Denver have been positioned so that each of the midfield concourses can expand significantly before reaching the taxiways. B Concourse, which is primarily used by [[United Airlines]], is longer then the other two concourses, but all three concourses can be expanded as needed. Once this expansion is exhausted, space has been reserved for Concourses D and E. |
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All international flights requiring [[custom]]s and [[immigration]] services currently fly into Concourse A. Most of the north facing gates on Concourse A can redirect incoming passengers into a separate level of the airport. That level connects with the second story of the air bridge and allows passengers to be connect to the Customs and Immigration in the Main Terminal. These gates could also be easily modified to allow boarding on both the upper deck and the lower deck of larger planes such as the Airbus A380. Currently only four gates are used for international flights. |
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Once fully built out, DIA should be able to handle 110 million passengers per year, up from 32 million at its opening. |
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== Concourses, airlines and public transportation== |
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Denver International Airport has three midfield [[concourse]]s, 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 underground train system. |
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The concourses and main terminal are laid out similar to [[Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta's airport]], except that DEN has no "T" gates directly attached to the terminal and departures are on a different level of the terminal than arrivals. |
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The airport charges relatively high landing fees to airlines in order to offset its construction costs. These fees have led to an effort to increase competition from [[Colorado Springs Airport]]. |
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===Concourse A=== |
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*[[British Airways]] (London-Heathrow) |
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*[[Champion Air]] (Las Vegas) |
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*[[Continental Airlines]] (Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark) |
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*[[Frontier Airlines]] (Acapulco, Akron/Canton, Albuquerque, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boise, Cancun, Cozumel, Chicago-Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Detroit, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Guadalajara [starts December 22, 2006], Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mazatlan, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San Jose del Cabo, Santa Ana/Orange County, St. Louis, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tucson, Washington-Reagan) |
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**[[Frontier JetExpress]] operated by [[Horizon Air]] (Albuquerque, Billings, Boise, Calgary, Dayton, El Paso, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Omaha, San Jose (CA), Spokane, Tucson, Tulsa) |
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*[[Great Lakes Aviation]] (Alamosa, Alliance/Chadron, Amarillo, Cheyenne, Cortez, Dickinson, Farmington, Garden City, Gillette, Grand Island, Grand Junction, Hays, Kearney, Laramie, Liberal, North Platte, Pierre, Pueblo, Riverton, Rock Springs, Santa Fe, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Telluride) |
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*[[JetBlue]] (Boston, New York-JFK) |
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*[[Lufthansa]] (Frankfurt) |
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*[[Mexicana de Aviación|Mexicana]] (Mexico City) |
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*[[United Airlines]] |
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**[[Ted (airline)|Ted]] operated by [[United Airlines]] (Cancun, Chicago-Midway [ends September 5, 2006], Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Miami, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Puerto Vallarta, Reno/Tahoe, San Jose del Cabo, Tampa) |
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===Concourse B (United)=== |
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[[Image:UnitedDenver.jpg|thumb|right|The entrance to Concourse B.]] |
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[[Image:5014-eaglerock-side.jpg|thumb|right|An [[Alexander Eaglerock]] biplane at the concourse's west end.]] |
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*[[Air Canada]] (Montréal, Toronto) |
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*[[United Airlines]] (Albuquerque, Anchorage, Aspen, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Billings, Boise, Boston, Burbank, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Cozumel, Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Eagle, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Honolulu, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle/Tacoma, Sioux Falls, Spokane, St. Louis, Toronto, Tucson, Tulsa, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, Wichita) |
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**[[United Express]] operated by [[GoJet Airlines]] (San Antonio, Tulsa) |
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**[[United Express]] operated by [[Mesa Airlines]] (Aspen, Atlanta, Austin, Cedar Rapids, Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Des Moines, Durango, Eagle, Fargo, Grand Junction, Gunnison, Hayden, Jackson Hole, Nashville, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, St. Louis, Tucson) |
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**[[United Express]] operated by [[Shuttle America]] (Dallas/Fort Worth, Toronto) |
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**[[United Express]] operated by [[SkyWest]] (Albuquerque, Austin, Bentonville/Fayetteville, Birmingham (AL), Billings, Bismarck, Boise, Bozeman, Burbank, Calgary, Chicago/Rockford, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Detroit, Durango, Edmonton, El Paso, Eugene, Fresno, Grand Junction, Grand Rapids [starts September 6, 2006], Houston/Intercontinental, Idaho Falls, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Medford, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Missoula, Moline, Montrose, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Pasco, Rapid City, Redmond/Bend, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Santa Barbara, Springfield, St. Louis, Tucson, Tulsa, Wichita, Winnipeg) |
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===Concourse C=== |
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*[[AirTran Airways]] (Atlanta) |
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*[[Alaska Airlines]] (Anchorage, Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma) |
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**[[Horizon Air]] (Portland (OR)) |
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*[[American Airlines]] (Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami) |
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**[[AmericanConnection]] operated by [[Chautauqua Airlines]] (St. Louis) |
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**[[AmericanConnection]] operated by [[Trans States Airlines]] (St. Louis) |
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*[[Big Sky Airlines]] (Billings, Sheridan) |
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*[[Delta Air Lines]] (Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Salt Lake City) |
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**[[Delta Connection]] operated by [[Comair]] (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky) |
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**[[Delta Connection]] operated by [[Skywest]] (Salt Lake City) |
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*[[Midwest Airlines]] (Milwaukee) |
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*[[Northwest Airlines]] (Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul) |
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**[[Northwest Airlink]] operated by [[Pinnacle Airlines]] (Memphis) |
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*[[Southwest Airlines]] (Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Houston-Hobby, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Oakland, Orlando, Nashville, Phoenix, Salt Lake City) |
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*[[Sun Country Airlines]] (Minneapolis/St. Paul) |
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*[[US Airways]] (Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) |
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**[[US Airways]] operated by [[America West Airlines]] (Las Vegas, Phoenix) |
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=== Public transportation === |
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The [[Regional Transportation District]] (RTD) operates frequent express bus service, called "SkyRide", between DIA and various locations throughout the [[Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Area|Denver-Aurora]] and [[Boulder, Colorado|Boulder]] metropolitan areas. By 2015, RTD plans to build a [[commuter rail]] line from downtown Denver's Union Station through [[Aurora, Colorado|Aurora]] to DIA, as part of the [[FasTracks]] expansion program. Scheduled bus service is also available to points such as [[Fort Collins, Colorado]] 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 United States|Western U.S.]] via a Denver stopover. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Megaproject]] |
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==External links== |
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{{Commonscat|Denver International Airport}} |
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*[http://www.flydenver.com/ Official website] |
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*[http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/08/26/news/denver.php Denver airport to mangle last bag], an August 2005 ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' article from the ''[[International Herald Tribune]]'' website |
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*[http://travel.howstuffworks.com/baggage-handling.htm How Baggage Handling Works], from [[HowStuffWorks]], describing DIA's automated system |
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*[http://www.cs.mdx.ac.uk/research/SFC/Reports/TR2002-01.pdf Project Problems with the Denver Airport Baggage Handling System] (in [[Portable Document Format|PDF format]]), from a [[Middlesex University]] website |
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{{US-airport|DEN}} |
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{{Mapit-US-hoodscale|39.860802|-104.673271}} |
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[[Category:Airports in Colorado]] |
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[[Category:Denver, Colorado]] |
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[[Category:Tensile architecture]] |
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[[de:Denver International Airport]] |
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[[fr:Aéroport international de Denver]] |
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[[id:Bandara Internasional Denver]] |
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[[ja:デンバー国際空港]] |
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[[pl:Port lotniczy Denver]] |
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[[pt:Aeroporto Internacional de Denver]] |
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[[sv:Denver International Airport]] |
Revision as of 04:03, 1 September 2006
Template:Airport frame Template:Airport title Template:Airport image Template:Airport infobox Template:Runway title Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Runway Template:Airport end frame Denver International Airport (DIA) (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN) is a major international airport located in northeastern Denver, Colorado and is operated by the City and County of Denver. In 2005 it served 43,387,513 passengers, which ranks eleventh worldwide (in the past it has ranked among the top ten busiest airports in the world). Year to date (January - April 2006) DIA has handeled 14,887,971 passengers making it the 9th busiest airport worldwide for preliminary 2006. At 53 sq. miles, it is the largest airport by area in the United States. "DIA", as it is commonly known, was voted the 2005 Best Airport in North America by readers of Business Traveler Magazine.
The airport's distinctive white tension fabric roof is designed to be reminiscent of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains in winter. It is also known for a pedestrian bridge connecting the terminal to Concourse A that offers a unique view of planes taxiing directly underneath. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, as well as a minor hub for Ted, a subsidiary of United.
The airport is 19.5 miles (31.5 km) further from downtown Denver than Stapleton International Airport, the airport it replaced. The distant location was chosen to avoid noise impacts to developed areas, to accommodate a generous runway layout that would not be compromised by winter storms, and to allow for future expansion. The land occupied by the airport actually has twice the land area of Manhattan, and was transferred from Adams County to Denver after a 1989 vote, increasing the city's size by 50 percent. However, much of the city of Aurora is actually closer to the airport than the developed portions of Denver, and all freeway traffic accessing the airport from Denver passes through Aurora.
DIA has public Wi-Fi access available throughout the airport provided by AT&T/Cingular [1]. T-Mobile (T-Mobile HotSpot) service is available in the airport lounges run by United, American, and Delta airlines [2].
History
In September 1989, under the leadership of Denver mayor Federico Peña, federal officials authorized the outlay of the first $60 million for the construction of DIA. Two years later, Mayor Wellington Webb inherited the project, scheduled to open on October 29, 1993.
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. This earned the airport the tongue-in-cheek nicknames "Delayed Indefinitely Airport" or "Denver's Imaginary Airport" using the DIA acronym.
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 [3], 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 into 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. Federal Aviation Administration (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 $5.2 billion, nearly $2 billion over budget. The delays and high fees prompted Continental Airlines, which had a hub at Stapleton, to back out of its plans to establish one at DIA.
After the airport's runways were completed but before it opened, the airport used the IATA code DVX, then later took over DEN and KDEN from Stapleton when the latter airport closed.
During a major blizzard in 2003, the heavy snow tore a hole in the terminal's white fabric roof.
In 2004, DIA was ranked first in major airports for on time arrivals according to the FAA.
Automated baggage system
The airport's computerized baggage system, which was supposed to reduce flight delays, shorten waiting times at luggage carousels, and save airlines in labor costs, turned into an unmitigated failure. An opening originally scheduled for October 31, 1993 with a single system for all three concourses turned into a February 28, 1995 opening with separate systems for each concourse, with varying degrees of automation.
The system's $186 million in original construction costs grew by $1 million per day during months of modifications and repairs. Incoming flights never made use of the system, and only United, DIA's dominant airline, used it for outgoing flights. The 40-year-old company responsible for the design of the automated system (BAE Automated Systems of Carrollton, Texas), at one time responsible for 90% of the baggage systems in the U.S., was acquired in 2003.
The system never worked well, and in August 2005, it became public knowledge that United would abandon the system, a decision that would save them $1 million in monthly maintenance costs.
Design and expandability
Denver has traditionally been one of the busier airports in the nation because of its geographical location. Many airlines including United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Western Airlines, TWA, the old Frontier Airlines and People Express were hubbed in Denver and there was also a significant Southwest Airlines operation at the old Stapleton International Airport. At times, Denver was a hub for three or four airlines. Gate space was severely limited at Stapleton, and the runways at the old Stapleton were unable to deal efficiently with Denver's weather and wind patterns, causing nationwide travel disruption. These problems were the main justification for the new airport.
With the construction of DIA, Denver was determined to build an airport that could be easily expanded over the next 50 years to eliminate many of the problems that had plagued Stapleton International Airport. This was achieved by designing an easily expandable midfield terminal and concourses, creating one of the most efficient airfields in the world.
The airfield is arranged in a pinwheel formation around the midfield terminal and concourses. This layout allows independent flow of aircraft to and from each runway without any queuing or overlap with other runways. Additional runways can be added as needed, up to a maximum of 12 runways. Denver currently has four north/south parallel runways and two east/west parallel runways.
DIA's sixth runway (16R/34L) is the longest commercial precision-instrument runway in North America with a length of 16,000 feet. Compared to other DIA runways, the extra 4,000-foot length allows fully loaded jumbo jets to take off in Denver's mile-high altitude during summer months, thereby providing unrestricted global access for any airline using DIA. The sixth runway can also accommodate the new generation of massive airliners, including the Airbus A380.
The midfield concourse allows passengers to be screened in a central location efficiently and then transported via a rail system to three different passenger concourses. Unlike Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport upon which the midfield design was based, Concourses B and C are only accessible via train which simplifies security.
The taxiways at Denver have been positioned so that each of the midfield concourses can expand significantly before reaching the taxiways. B Concourse, which is primarily used by United Airlines, is longer then the other two concourses, but all three concourses can be expanded as needed. Once this expansion is exhausted, space has been reserved for Concourses D and E.
All international flights requiring customs and immigration services currently fly into Concourse A. Most of the north facing gates on Concourse A can redirect incoming passengers into a separate level of the airport. That level connects with the second story of the air bridge and allows passengers to be connect to the Customs and Immigration in the Main Terminal. These gates could also be easily modified to allow boarding on both the upper deck and the lower deck of larger planes such as the Airbus A380. Currently only four gates are used for international flights.
Once fully built out, DIA should be able to handle 110 million passengers per year, up from 32 million at its opening.
Concourses, airlines and public transportation
Denver International Airport 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 underground train system.
The concourses and main terminal are laid out similar to Atlanta's airport, except that DEN has no "T" gates directly attached to the terminal and departures are on a different level of the terminal than arrivals.
The airport charges relatively high landing fees to airlines in order to offset its construction costs. These fees have led to an effort to increase competition from Colorado Springs Airport.
Concourse A
- British Airways (London-Heathrow)
- Champion Air (Las Vegas)
- Continental Airlines (Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, Newark)
- Frontier Airlines (Acapulco, Akron/Canton, Albuquerque, Anchorage, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boise, Cancun, Cozumel, Chicago-Midway, Dallas/Fort Worth, Dayton, Detroit, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Guadalajara [starts December 22, 2006], Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Mazatlan, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Nashville, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Reno/Tahoe, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San Jose del Cabo, Santa Ana/Orange County, St. Louis, Seattle/Tacoma, Tampa, Tucson, Washington-Reagan)
- Frontier JetExpress operated by Horizon Air (Albuquerque, Billings, Boise, Calgary, Dayton, El Paso, Little Rock, Oklahoma City, Omaha, San Jose (CA), Spokane, Tucson, Tulsa)
- Great Lakes Aviation (Alamosa, Alliance/Chadron, Amarillo, Cheyenne, Cortez, Dickinson, Farmington, Garden City, Gillette, Grand Island, Grand Junction, Hays, Kearney, Laramie, Liberal, North Platte, Pierre, Pueblo, Riverton, Rock Springs, Santa Fe, Scottsbluff, Sheridan, Telluride)
- JetBlue (Boston, New York-JFK)
- Lufthansa (Frankfurt)
- Mexicana (Mexico City)
- United Airlines
- Ted operated by United Airlines (Cancun, Chicago-Midway [ends September 5, 2006], Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Miami, Ontario, Orlando, Phoenix, Puerto Vallarta, Reno/Tahoe, San Jose del Cabo, Tampa)
Concourse B (United)
- Air Canada (Montréal, Toronto)
- United Airlines (Albuquerque, Anchorage, Aspen, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Billings, Boise, Boston, Burbank, Calgary, Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Cozumel, Dallas/Fort Worth, Des Moines, Detroit, Eagle, Hayden/Steamboat Springs, Honolulu, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jackson Hole, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Newark, New Orleans, New York-LaGuardia, Oakland, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orange County, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland (OR), Puerto Vallarta, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle/Tacoma, Sioux Falls, Spokane, St. Louis, Toronto, Tucson, Tulsa, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, Wichita)
- United Express operated by GoJet Airlines (San Antonio, Tulsa)
- United Express operated by Mesa Airlines (Aspen, Atlanta, Austin, Cedar Rapids, Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Des Moines, Durango, Eagle, Fargo, Grand Junction, Gunnison, Hayden, Jackson Hole, Nashville, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, St. Louis, Tucson)
- United Express operated by Shuttle America (Dallas/Fort Worth, Toronto)
- United Express operated by SkyWest (Albuquerque, Austin, Bentonville/Fayetteville, Birmingham (AL), Billings, Bismarck, Boise, Bozeman, Burbank, Calgary, Chicago/Rockford, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, Columbus, Detroit, Durango, Edmonton, El Paso, Eugene, Fresno, Grand Junction, Grand Rapids [starts September 6, 2006], Houston/Intercontinental, Idaho Falls, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Medford, Memphis, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Missoula, Moline, Montrose, Oklahoma City, Palm Springs, Pasco, Rapid City, Redmond/Bend, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, Santa Barbara, Springfield, St. Louis, Tucson, Tulsa, Wichita, Winnipeg)
Concourse C
- AirTran Airways (Atlanta)
- Alaska Airlines (Anchorage, Portland (OR), Seattle/Tacoma)
- Horizon Air (Portland (OR))
- American Airlines (Chicago-O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami)
- AmericanConnection operated by Chautauqua Airlines (St. Louis)
- AmericanConnection operated by Trans States Airlines (St. Louis)
- Big Sky Airlines (Billings, Sheridan)
- Delta Air Lines (Atlanta, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Salt Lake City)
- Delta Connection operated by Comair (Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky)
- Delta Connection operated by Skywest (Salt Lake City)
- Midwest Airlines (Milwaukee)
- Northwest Airlines (Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul)
- Northwest Airlink operated by Pinnacle Airlines (Memphis)
- Southwest Airlines (Baltimore/Washington, Chicago-Midway, Houston-Hobby, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Oakland, Orlando, Nashville, Phoenix, Salt Lake City)
- Sun Country Airlines (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
- US Airways (Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh)
- US Airways operated by America West Airlines (Las Vegas, Phoenix)
Public transportation
The Regional Transportation District (RTD) operates frequent express bus service, called "SkyRide", between DIA and various locations throughout the Denver-Aurora and Boulder metropolitan areas. By 2015, RTD plans to build a commuter rail line from downtown Denver's Union Station through Aurora to DIA, as part of the FasTracks expansion program. Scheduled bus service is also available to points such as Fort Collins, Colorado 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.
See also
External links
- Official website
- Denver airport to mangle last bag, an August 2005 New York Times article from the International Herald Tribune website
- How Baggage Handling Works, from HowStuffWorks, describing DIA's automated system
- Project Problems with the Denver Airport Baggage Handling System (in PDF format), from a Middlesex University website
- 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