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5 The airport ’ s underground electric train connects concourses A , B , and C with the Jeppesen Terminal . |
And Denver has grown to be the third busiest airport in the world ( 2021 and 2022 ), after Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson ( ATL ) and Dallas / Fort Worth ( DFW ). That heavy traffic has its downside . DEN is known for overcrowding , leading to low rankings for customer satisfaction .
The airport features a main building , the Jeppesen Terminal , and the A , B , and C airside concourses . It has six operational
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runways : two east-west ones and four north-south ones . Five of the runways measure 12,000ft ( 3,650m ), and one , 16R / 34L , 16,000ft ( 4,880m )— over three miles long — which makes it the longest commercial runway in North America . Due to Denver ’ s high elevation , the extra length is often needed for departures in the summer heat . These six nonintersecting runways give the airport one of the most efficient layouts across the United States . Furthermore , the airport has the capacity for six additional ones .
SLOW START
As soon as it opened in 1995 , DEN became one of the most hated airports in the US . It was isolated on the prairie , 25 miles ( 40km ) from downtown
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Denver . It went over US $ 2 billion over budget . The perpassenger costs were so high that Southwest Airlines ( WN ) refused to operate from there . Plus , the high-tech baggage system didn ’ t work .
All these perceptions have changed over the years . The airport has become one of the world ’ s most convenient and competitive . To lure more airline service , the airport reduced costs , therefore lowering fares and bringing in more passengers . That enabled it to grow . When the airport opened , airlines had to pay US $ 16 per enplaned passenger ; this charge steadily decreased to $ 10.65 in 2022 .
In 2006 , Southwest returned to Denver . It is now the airport ’ s
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