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)
Other Spotting Locations
114th Avenue
From Pena Buelevard, 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 Buelevard 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 valleyhead road, and on the east side of the road there's a little pullout, but it is an unofficial parking area so be warned. Usually nobody bothers you but on occasion they'll take your ID or simply ask you to move along (that's only happened once). Great for evening arrivals onto 35L, 35R is impossible without 600mm or longer.
56th
Pretty simple to get here. From the 35's (see above), continue south along valleyhead 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. Beware though, ugly chicks will try to eat you.
The Conoco Lot
From Pena, Exit onto Rental Car Road. The Conoco is at the far west end of Rental Car Road, pretty close to the threshold of runway 7. The best angles are had here, but this runway is somewhat infrequently used compared to the 35's and 16's. You can choose to stay and spot at the dirt lot or walk up to the traffic light. If it's summer, you'll want a water bottle for the trek. Not long, but hot nonetheless.
Locations to Avoid
We have in the past been asked to leave when spotting on the east end of Rental Car Road at the threshold of 25, this was a few years ago and since then I haven't really been back there, but I assume the rules are still the same. Also, it's best if you avoid runway 8/26 entirely because they will arrest you if they catch you there.
Regular Traffic
United and Frontier represent Denver's staple traffic. A plethora of other airlines serve the airport, most recently, Southwest.
British Airways sends a 777 from LHR, usually with Rolls Royce engines. Lufthansa sends 747-400 as well.
Aeroméxico and Volaris both serve Denver from Mexico, and Virgin America runs a route to San Francisco.
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.