Denver International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Colorado |
| Denver International Airport | |
| Location | Denver, Colorado |
| IATA code | DEN |
| ICAO code | KDEN |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.flydenver.com |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 124.3, 256.85 for Rwy 08/26, 17L/35R 132.35 for Rwy 07/25 133.3, 322.45 for Rwy 17R/35L 135.3, 351.95 for Rwy 16L/34R, 16R/34L 273.55 for Rwy 07/25, 16L/34R |
| Ground | 127.5, 380.3 for Rwy 07/25, 16L/34R, 16R/34L 121.85, 377.1 for Rwy 08/26, 17L/35R, 17R/35L 256.85 for Rwy 08/26, 17L/35R |
| Clearance | 118.75 |
| Approach | 119.3,120.35,307.3,381.5 |
| Departure | 126.1,127.05,128.25,128.45,251.075 |
| ATIS | 125.6 (arr) 134.025(dep) |
| Departure | 122.95 |
Opened in 1995, DEN currently has non-stop service to 215 destinations amongst 23 different airlines throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia; it is the fourth airport in the U.S. to exceed 200 destinations. It has the second-largest domestic network, with 189 U.S. destinations. As of 2018, DEN is the 20th busiest airport in the world - fifth busiest in the U.S. - by passenger traffic, handling 64,494,613 passengers. (From Wikipedia)
Spotting Locations
114th Avenue
From Pena Boulevard, exit onto Tower Road and head north to 96th (Turn right if you're exiting pena buelevard westbound, left if exiting Pena eastbound). Turn right on 96th and follow it around a left curve, then a right curve. You will see the approaches at this point. This location is great for side-ons from approaches to the 16s, and some unique departure shots can be had from aircraft departing the 34's, as they usually cross very low over 114th in a steep bank. Beware however, don't be in between the signs on foot or parked.
120th Avenue
Same to get to 114th avenue, however instead of turning right on 96th, you turn right on 120th and follow it to the approaches. No departure shots from here as you're a little far out, but the good news is that they still come very low over 120th on approaches and there are no signs or security (you're in Adams County, or as we call it Kansas Lite).
The 35's (Mount Elbert Lot)
From Pena Boulevard exit onto Jackson Gap and head south (Right turn off the exit ramp if you're heading toward the terminals, left turn off the exit ramp if you're heading away). Follow the road around a left curve and take the first right. Take another left right after the stop sign. The road you are on will dead-end at Valley Head road. Head north on Valley Head until past the fire station, and on the east side of the road there's a little pullout. This spot is great for evening arrivals onto 35L, but 35R is impossible without 600mm or longer.
56th Avenue
Pretty simple to get here. From the 35's (see above). Make a right turn and continue south along Valley Head until it dead-ends at 56th. Take a left there and drive until you're wherever you want to be to get the angles you want. A little bit higher up, but like 120th, you're in Adams County and pretty much free to photograph as you please.
Final Approach Gas Station (Runway 25)
From Pena, exit on to Gun Club road and follow all signs for Gas, Food, and Cell Phone lot. Park in the main lot where you will be able to see departures taking off runway 25. This spot is great in the afternoon and early evening, especially in the winter. (Despite the name, 07 arrivals are next to impossible to spot from Final Approach.)
Aero Snow Removal Co. Parking Lot
Follow the same route to get to the 35's. However, instead of taking the first right off Jackson Gap, make a left into the Aero Snow Removal Co. parking lot. Head to the north end of the lot, where you will have a great view of the cargo ramp. In the winter, there is a large snow pile at the north end of the lot which you can climb, which provides fantastic angles of the cargo ramp. This spot also provides good views of aircraft touching down on 35L.
Parking Garages
Follow Pena Blvd. all the way in to the terminal and follow signs for the parking garages. Note, parking in the garages costs $4 per hour and $28 per day.
West Garage
Keep left on Pena Blvd for terminal West. Follow signs for parking garage. Print your parking pass and continue to the northernmost garage available. Turn right and head all the way up to level 5, and park in the northwest corner of the garage. From here you will have a great view of aircraft taxiing on taxiway G towards runway 25 and aircraft on final for runway 34R. Beware however, this spot will be extremely backlit in the afternoon and evening.
East Garage
Keep right on Pena Blvd for terminal East. Follow signs for parking garage. Print your parking pass and continue to the first garage available. Turn right and head all the way up to level 5, and park in the northeast corner of the garage. This spot provides amazing shots of aircraft landing on 17R, as well as shots of aircraft taxiing in from landing on 35L, 35R, and 26.
96th Avenue
From 56th Avenue, continue eastbound until you reach Imboden Road and a small depot. Turn left on Imboden Road and head north for 5 miles. From there, turn left on 96th Avenue. 96th Avenue is a good dirt road. Continue through some trees for 2 miles to the intersection of 96th and Hudson Mile Road. From here you will have a great view of aircraft touching down on runway 26 or taking off of runway 8. Beware: Do not continue east on 96th or north on Hudson Mile as this is airport property and you are likely to get into trouble.
Regular Traffic
The airport is the fourth largest hub for United Airlines, the largest hub for Frontier Airlines, and is also a main operating base for Southwest Airlines. These three airlines' combined operations made up about 85% of the total passenger traffic at DEN as of December 2018. (From Wikipedia) There has however, in recent years, been a surge in international traffic. Below is a list if international flights to DEN, excluding those operated by United, Southwest, and Frontier.
| Airline | From: | Aircraft | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AeroMexico | MEX, MTY | Boeing 737-800, Embraer 190 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Air Canada | YUL, YYZ, YVR | Canadair CRJ-900, Embraer 190 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| British Airways | LHR | Boeing 747-400 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Copa Airlines | PTY | Boeing 737-800 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Edelweiss Airways | ZRH | Airbus A330 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Icelandair | KEF | Boeing 757-200 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Lufthansa | FRA, MUC | Boeing 747-400, Airbus A350-900 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Norweigian Air | LGW, CDG | Boeing 787-9 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| Volaris | CUU, GDL, MEX | Airbus A319, Airbus A320 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
| WestJet | YYC | Boeing 737-700 | Suspended Indefinitely due to COVID-19 |
Facilities and Transportation
Automated Gateway Transit System
Concourses are accessed by a people mover known as the Automated Guideway Transit System. With four train stations and thirty-one vehicles, it moves passengers between the main terminal and the three concourses via an underground rail system. This system is not part of the commuter rail system between downtown Denver and Denver International Airport.
Solar energy system
Denver International Airport currently has four solar photovoltaic arrays on airport property, with a total capacity of 10 megawatts or 16 million kilowatt-hours of solar electricity annually.
Hotel and Transit Center
The DIA Hotel and Transit Center is made up of three integrated functional areas: hotel, public land transportation, and public plaza.
A $544 million construction project was recently completed directly connecting a hotel and transit center to the Jeppesen terminal. The project includes a commuter rail train station, run by Regional Transportation District's (RTD) FasTracks system and a 519-room hotel and conference center, run by Westin Hotels & Resorts. The hotel opened November 19, 2015, and the commuter rail service began on April 22, 2016. Gensler and AndersonMasonDale Architects were the architects for the project. Construction had begun on October 5, 2011. RTD buses will also relocate to bus bays in the Hotel and Transit Center.