Denver International Airport Hits Record Passenger Numbers in 2023, Boosted by Connecting Travelers
Denver International Airport (DEN) reached an unprecedented milestone in 2023, handling a record 77.8 million passengers, marking a 12.3% increase from its previous busiest year in 2022. This surge in traffic solidifies DEN’s position as one of the world’s leading airports, maintaining its third-place ranking according to preliminary figures from Airports Council International (ACI) World for the initial ten months of the year.
The airport experienced consistent monthly all-time highs in passenger volume throughout 2023, propelled notably by a significant rise in connecting passengers. While origin and destination (O&D) traffic saw a marginal increase of 0.1% over 2019, connecting travelers contributed to a remarkable 35.7% growth compared to the same pre-pandemic period. This indicates a shifting trend in passenger flow through the airport, emphasizing DEN’s strategic role as a major hub for connecting flights.
International traffic at DEN also saw a notable upswing, with 4 million international passengers in 2023, up 21.5% year-over-year, representing the highest figure the airport has ever recorded. This contributed to international passengers comprising 5.2% of DEN’s overall traffic, an increase from 4.6% in 2019.
Leading the charge in airline operations at DEN, United Airlines transported a record 36 million passengers to and from the airport in 2023, securing a dominant 46.8% market share. Southwest Airlines followed with a 30.9% market share, handling 24 million passengers, and Denver-based Frontier Airlines served 7.5 million passengers, claiming a 9.6% share of the airport’s traffic.
Despite the passenger growth, total cargo volume at DEN in 2023 experienced a slight decrease of 5.9% from 2022, totaling 680 million tons. However, this still represents a 1.4% increase over 2019 levels. The cargo carried in passenger aircraft bellies saw an 8.1% rise year-over-year, although freighter volumes declined by 10% from the previous year.
In response to the growing demand and aiming to enhance passenger experience, DEN has launched a new “Premium Reserve Parking” service. For a daily fee of $50, travelers can now enjoy prime parking locations in garages with direct terminal access, designed to minimize the time spent walking or waiting for shuttles. This service can be reserved via an app up to 90 days in advance or as late as five minutes before a flight, offering a seamless and stress-free start to their journey.
Phil Washington, DEN’s CEO, highlighted this new parking solution as a testament to the airport’s commitment to providing a more efficient and convenient experience for travelers, aligning with its record-breaking performance and strategic growth initiatives.