Denver International Airport Celebrates 2024 Milestones

DENVER – Dec. 23, 2024 – Denver International Airport (DEN) ascended to new heights this past year and is ready for a new takeoff as it approaches its 30^th anniversary. Before the year ends, DEN is looking back on 2024 accomplishments and milestones. Among the most notable (in no particular order):

Record Traffic Months

DEN’s three busiest months ever occurred this summer. July 2024 now ranks as the busiest month on record at DEN, followed by June and August 2024, respectively. DEN remains the 3^rd busiest airport in North America.

New Airlines and Air Service:

In January, Viva inaugurated new twice-weekly, year-round nonstop service between DEN and Monterrey, Mexico. In April 2025, the service is scheduled to increase to four times weekly.

In May, Aer Lingus inaugurated new seasonal nonstop service between DEN and Dublin – the first-ever service from DEN to Ireland. The service is planned to restart in late March 2025, and will operate six times weekly in the peak summer 2025 period, up from four times per week in summer 2024.

In May, Breeze Airways started operating at DEN. The carrier flies seasonally to Providence, Rhode Island.

In June, Turkish Airlines inaugurated new year-round nonstop service between DEN and Istanbul. This is now the longest nonstop service out of DEN, surpassing the previous record holder, Tokyo/Narita. Flights will increase to daily beginning in June 2025.

In December, United announced new summer seasonal service to Rome, Italy (FCO) beginning May 1, 2025, and year-round service to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (YQR) beginning May 15, 2025.

In 2024, DEN’s international network reached 31 nonstop destinations in 17 countries around the world, and in 2025 will expand to encompass 33 nonstop destinations in 18 countries, the most in DEN history.

Expanded International Service:

Air France expanded their seasonal summer Paris/Charles De Gaulle service to operate year-round. Aeromexico started new seasonal nonstop service to Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico. United Airlines initiated new international year-round service to Winnipeg, Canada.

2024 Great Hall Milestones:

In February, the West Security Checkpoint opened, providing state-of-the-art security checkpoints on Level 6 where travelers benefit from the latest technology.

In August, DEN reached the 50 percent completion mark for the East Security Checkpoint. The checkpoint is scheduled to open in Q3 2025. The East checkpoint will mirror the West checkpoint, providing another 17 security lanes with the latest technology.

DEN completed the first phase to refresh baggage claim areas. Work includes new flooring, ceiling, and lighting

Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation

On Dec. 16, DEN dedicated its Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation’s (CEEA) Hall of Equity to Bessie Coleman and Ed Dwight, two trailblazing aviators.

CEEA, which broke ground in December 2023, is a first-of-its-kind training center intended to create an aviation talent pipeline for Denver, the Rocky Mountain region and the aviation industry, with a concentration on under-represented community members and historically underutilized businesses. Programming has been underway for the last year and includes a Business Development Training Academy, as well as a mentorship, internship, and leadership program.

Gate Expansion

In October, DEN and Frontier Airlines fully opened a 120,000-square-foot re-modeled and expanded area of Concourse A. The new $220 million ground boarding facility, located on the eastern edge of the concourse, was completed on time and within budget.

Construction of the new facility began in the summer of 2022. It includes 83,000 square feet of remodeled space and 37,000 square feet of concourse expansion. The area is divided into two parallel corridors (north and south) that provide access to six new gate waiting areas, nine remodeled gates and five new gates (a total of 14 gates). The entire area fully opened on Oct. 1, 2024. The expansion also includes office space and an adjacent 8,000-square-foot airline maintenance facility.

New Food and Lounge Options

DEN has opened 29 concessions in 2024, many of which are beloved local brands. The airport’s concession team is working to open more than 30 concepts in 2025.

The redevelopment of older concessions is also underway at DEN. Fifteen locations have closed for construction of new concepts or to refurbish existing concepts. Redevelopment will produce a refreshed and welcoming environment for travelers.

2024 Openings

New AGTS Cars

This summer, six brand new train cars began taking their first passengers to the concourses. Eleven new cars are now on site, nine of which are operational. These new train cars are part of DEN’s larger effort to upgrade its Automated Guideway Train System (AGTS) that carries passengers between the terminal and concourses. A total of 26 new train new cars are expected to become operational throughout this year and into next year.

Our Green Mission

As part of the airport’s Vision 100 strategic plan, DEN is making strides to become one of the greenest airports in the world.

Solar 9 – DEN energized its newest solar project, which is the largest solar array in Denver.  Solar 9 will generate 25 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each year (~13% of DEN’s annual use) and save the airport $5 million over the contract term.

Energy Performance Contract (EPC) – DEN is about 50% through construction on the largest EPC project in Colorado history, which is projected to reduce DEN’s overall energy use by 20%, water use by 30% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30,000 metric tons. The project’s implemented through September have resulted in 16.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity savings, 135,000 therms of natural gas savings, and 143 million gallons of water savings.

Zero Waste Valet – DEN launched a state-funded “Zero Waste Valet” program to pilot test ways to improve waste diversion on Concourse B through back-of-house composting and recycling support. From June through November, the program’s 19 participating concessions have already diverted more than 69 tons of waste, with a 71% diversion rate (compared to the airport-wide 21.8% rate).

Parking improvements

Over the summer, DEN upgraded its parking payment kiosks. The new Flash machines provide an efficient and easy experience for parkers exiting DEN lots. Features include:

• Thermal-printed barcodes on tickets that can last up to 30 days in direct sunlight. (The older machines use ink-printed tickets that are more likely to fade);
• New equipment that increases the likelihood of consistent receipt printing;
• Updated license plate readers that can automatically calculate parking fees in case a driver loses their ticket.

The Pikes Peak shuttle lot is now fully reopened following approximately six months partial closures due to construction activities. The newly rehabilitated lot was previously covered with asphalt. It now features concrete pavement covering a total of 70 acres. The Pikes Peak lot’s full reopening allows drivers access to a total of 9,000 parking spaces.

Power washing and parking stall re-striping work was completed in East Garage and West Garage, providing drivers cleaner and more attractive parking facilities

Enhancing the Customer Experience

DEN launched a detailed, weekly inspection program for the Airport Customer Experience Specialists (ACES) team where every gate and restroom on all three concourses are inspected weekly so issues can be identified and resolved more efficiently. The ACES team completed 10,000 inspections this year alone.

DEN opened its first kid’s play area. The play area, which has an outer space and alien theme, a subtle play on DEN’s infamous conspiracy theories, is located on Concourse C, near gate C48.

DEN opened the world’s first airport holiday pop-up bar, “Santa’s Layover Lounge,” featuring hand-crafted holiday cocktails, a hot chocolate bar and a holiday-themed food menu. Santa’s Layover Lounge is a partnership between DEN and Skyport Hospitality, located in Concourse B.

Every step, mile, cuddle and toilet paper roll counts… Here’s to our honorable mentions for 2024:

• At least 1,568 daily trips by DEN’s busiest elevator (it’s on track to have logged 572,000 total trips during 2024);
• 119,918,832 rolls of toilet paper stocked in DEN bathrooms;
• At least 5 million cups of coffee served across all drink concessions;
• 775,931 gallons of water filtered for water bottles;
• 3,400 hours of cuddles from DEN’s Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS);
• 220,000 customer questions fielded by our Customer Service team;
• 30,000 hours of time volunteered by DEN Ambassadors to assist passengers;
• 58,240,000 steps taken by DEN’s ACES team through the airport concourses to help ensure a positive passenger experience
• 1.8 million miles traveled by DEN trains;
• 1,684,411 miles traveled in total by Car 1, DEN’s original train car that has been in service since before DEN’s official launch in 1995 (Car 1 officially retired in December, 2024);
• 2,646 ear buds turned into DEN’s Lost and Found;
• 24,402,845 total bags processed through DEN’s system, including an average 22,135 oversized bags per week.

“I want to thank DEN’s 40,000+ employees, airline partners, concessionaire partners, contractors, and of course, our passengers, for another successful year. We remained focused on enhancing our customer experience, becoming the greenest airport in the world, and taking care of our assets while growing our infrastructure to meet increasing passenger demand,” DEN CEO, Phil Washington said. “I look forward to another ambitious year ahead.”  – DEN CEO, Phil Washington

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Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.