Denver International Airport falls 3 spots to world's 6th-busiest
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Despite Denver International Airport's passenger traffic soaring to new heights, it fell from No. 3 to No. 6 in the 2023 rankings of the world's busiest airports, new data shows.
By the numbers: DIA recorded nearly 78 million passengers in 2023, up 12% from the previous year and about 13% since 2019, according to a preliminary report released this week from Airports Council International.
- The increase in traffic comes as the airport has added new gates, security checkpoints, airlines and nonstop flights.
The intrigue: Even though it slipped globally, Denver has held its status as the third-busiest airport in the country for a second straight year.
- Airport officials say Denver's drop is due to the continued post-pandemic recovery of travel demand across other regions of the world, particularly in Dubai, London and Tokyo.
Yes, but: 2023 marked DIA's busiest year on record — the first in which it served more than 70 million passengers.
What we're watching: DIA is working on opening a new east security checkpoint by the end of 2025, which will add 17 new lanes.
- The airport's $2.1 billion Great Hall Project is slated for completion by the end of 2027.