Denver Airport Shines at Routes Americas 2025
Denver International Airport (DEN) has emerged as a top performer at the Routes Americas 2025 Awards, winning the Overall Winner title as well as the Over 20 Million Passengers category. The U.S. airport, celebrated for its outstanding connectivity and economic impact, was one of five winners honored at the prestigious event held in Nassau & Paradise Island, Bahamas.
Laura Jackson, vice president of air service development at DEN, expressed the airport’s excitement about the recognition. “We were honored to be nominated for a Routes Award—and thrilled to be named a winner,” Jackson said. “The DEN air service team is proud to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop creative ways to support new and incumbent carriers in achieving long-term success in the Mile High City. Thanks to the judges and to Routes for recognizing our contribution to the expansion of Denver’s global connectivity and resulting economic activity.”
In 2024, DEN experienced a record-breaking year, welcoming more than 82 million passengers and establishing itself as North America’s third-busiest airport. With flights connecting to 223 destinations worldwide—including 33 international cities—the airport has significantly expanded its global reach. Notably, DEN secured five new airline partnerships last year, including major carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Aer Lingus, which launched key international routes to Istanbul and Dublin respectively.
The success at DEN is part of a broader recognition of excellence in the aviation and tourism sectors, with other winners at the Routes Americas 2025 Awards also celebrating impressive achievements. In the Under 4 Million Passengers category, Aruba Airport Authority took home the award after Queen Beatrix International Airport in Aruba surpassed 3 million passengers in 2024. The growth, driven by a 14% year-over-year increase and bolstered by a 15% rise in seat capacity—adding 263,000 seats—and the introduction of two new airline partners, LATAM Airlines and GOL, has positioned Aruba as a rising star in regional aviation.
Buenos Aires’ Aeroparque Jorge Newbery earned the award in the 4-20 Million Passengers category following a record 14.9 million passengers in 2024. The airport’s success was highlighted by the addition of seven new domestic and international routes to cities such as Bogotá, Montevideo, and Florianópolis, as well as new partnerships with Avianca and Sky Perú.
The Destination Award was claimed by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which achieved record-breaking air service growth in 2024. Strategic airline partnerships enabled the addition of 5.6 million more airline seats since pre-pandemic levels, including 300,000 new seats in 2024 alone, and elevated Las Vegas to a record 170 nonstop routes by year-end.
Finally, Panama’s Copa Airlines was honored with the Airline Award. The carrier expanded its network to 85 destinations across 32 countries in 2024, with new routes to Raleigh-Durham, Florianópolis, and Tulum fueling a 10.5% growth in available seat miles. Key partnerships with airports and tourism organizations in Aruba, Curacao, and Medellín have also contributed to a 12% increase in international passenger traffic compared to 2022.
Finalists in the Airport and Destination categories were evaluated by a panel of airline judges, while editorial judges reviewed the Airline category. The comprehensive review underscores the significant contributions these winners have made to advancing global aviation connectivity and tourism growth.
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