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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Denver International Airport

Denver, Colorado (United States)

IATA: DEN ICAO: KDEN

Longest Active Runway

16,000 ft

4,877 meters

Field Elevation

5,434 ft

1,656 m MSL

Runway Inventory

6 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

39.8600°, -104.6738°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#2 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#5 of 7558

Top <0.1% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#1 in US

#2 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+60%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Denver International Airport's longest active runway measures 16,000 ft (4,877 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #2. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #5 worldwide (Top <0.1%) and #1 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Denver International Airport (DEN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Denver International Airport is an architectural and aeronautical marvel designed specifically to overcome high-altitude atmospheric limitations. Located at 5,434 ft above sea level on the high Colorado plains, summer temperatures routinely exceed 35°C, drastically thinning air density. Its 16,000 ft runway 16R/34L allows fully loaded widebody jetliners to accelerate to higher true liftoff airspeeds and climb out safely to Europe and Asia. Its non-intersecting pinwheel layout enables simultaneous triple instrument approaches even in heavy blizzards.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Six non-intersecting runways configured in a pinwheel layout: four north-south parallels (16L/34R, 16R/34L, 17L/35R, 17R/35L) and two east-west crosswinds (07/25, 08/26).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in February 1995 on a massive 53-square-mile plot 25 miles east of downtown Denver, replacing the severely slot-constrained Stapleton International Airport. Features the iconic Teflon-coated fabric peaks of the Jeppesen Terminal.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Largest airport in North America by total land area, operating without the boundary constraints that limit Colorado Springs (COS, 63 NM south) and Centennial (APA).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Runway 16R/34L measures 16,000 ft (4,877 m)—the longest public commercial runway in North America—specifically engineered to counter high summer density altitude penalties at 5,434 ft elevation.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav DEN Master Record ↗

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

High-Altitude Aerodrome (Hot & High)

Denver International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 5,434 ft (1,656 m MSL) in Denver. Operating in high density-altitude conditions, aircraft true airspeed on takeoff and landing runs noticeably higher than indicated airspeed, requiring extended runway lengths.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Largest airport in North America by total land area, operating without the boundary constraints that limit Colorado Springs (COS, 63 NM south) and Centennial (APA). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) located 63.3 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 16,000 ft (4,877 m)

Denver International Airport's active flight strips comprise 16R/34L (16,000 ft), 07/25 (12,000 ft), 08/26 (12,000 ft), 16L/34R (12,000 ft), 17R/35L (12,000 ft), 17L/35R (12,000 ft). With a longest active threshold of 16,000 ft (4,877 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
16R/34L	16,000 ft (4877m)	200 ft (61m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
07/25	12,000 ft (3658m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
08/26	12,000 ft (3658m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
16L/34R	12,000 ft (3658m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17R/35L	12,000 ft (3658m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
17L/35R	12,000 ft (3658m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (Colorado Springs)	`COS`	63.3 NM (117.2 km)	13,500 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/den.json ↗