Scaling New Heights: Inside United’s Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Rapid Expansion in the Mile High City
Denver has experienced rapid growth as a hub for United Airlines over the past decade. The airline has invested heavily in expanding operations at Denver International Airport (DEN), which has quickly become one of the largest and busiest hubs in United's network. This expansion has enabled United to offer more nonstop flights to more destinations from Denver while also strengthening connectivity across its domestic and international network.
According to United, the number of daily departures from DEN has increased by over 60% since 2010. Much of this growth occurred in the past 5 years, with United adding nearly 200 new flights from the Denver hub since 2015. As a result, United and its regional partners now operate more than 500 daily departures out of DEN to nearly 200 airports worldwide.
This growth has been driven by a few key factors. With its central location in the middle of the country, Denver provides an ideal connecting point for traffic flowing between the Midwest and West Coast markets. The Denver area itself is also one of the fastest growing regions in the U.S., generating strong origination and destination demand. Denver's mile-high elevation gives it natural advantages for takeoffs and landings, enabling efficient operations even when other airports experience weather disruptions.
The rapid expansion has delivered significant benefits for Denver area travelers and businesses. More nonstop flights have led to increased competition and declining fares on many major routes from Denver. Connectivity has also improved dramatically, with single-stop service now available on United from Denver to over 300 airports worldwide. This makes accessing destinations across the U.S. and globe easy and convenient.
The growth has also been an economic boon for the city and state of Colorado. United employs around 10,000 workers locally, and the increase in connectivity has helped attract tourism and business investment. As United continues growing rapidly in Denver, these benefits are likely to compound. An analysis by the Common Sense Institute forecasts United's expansion will generate $3 billion in economic impact for the region through 2025.
What else is in this post?
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Rapid Expansion in the Mile High City
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - More Gates, More Flights, More Passengers
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Maximizing Connections Through Denver
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Regional Jets Replaced With Larger Aircraft
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Denver Becoming a Global Gateway
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Competition Heating Up With Low-Cost Carriers
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Airport Investing Heavily in New Amenities
- Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - United Betting Big on Denver's Future
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - More Gates, More Flights, More Passengers
To keep pace with its rapid growth in Denver, United has invested heavily in expanding infrastructure and facilities at the airport. A key part of this has been the addition of new gates to accommodate more flights and passengers.
Over the past 5 years, United has leased over 20 additional gates from DEN, bringing its total to around 90 gates today. This expansion has been crucial to enabling the increase in departures. According to United’s hub operations director in Denver, “As we continue to grow, gates are the biggest constraint, so we are always working closely with DEN to ensure we have the facilities available.”
The surge in gates has translated to a surge in new flights, especially to some of United’s major hub airports like Chicago, Houston, Newark and San Francisco. For example, United has added multiple daily flights on routes like Denver to Chicago O’Hare, Houston Bush Intercontinental, Newark Liberty and San Francisco in recent years. The airline now offers hourly service on many of these trunk routes connecting Denver with its largest hubs.
This increase in flight frequencies makes it easier than ever for Denver-area residents to access United’s extensive network. As one Denver passenger described it, “With all the new gates and flights, I can now hop on a nonstop United flight to practically any major city at any time of day. It’s so convenient whether I’m traveling for business or pleasure.”
Of course, more flights means more passengers too. United enplaned over 16 million passengers at Denver in 2019, an increase of 31% in 5 years. Airport officials project United’s passenger counts will continue growing by 5-7% per year.
To accommodate all these additional travelers, United has built a huge new “Regional Concourse” at DEN that opened last year. The concourse added 12 new gates outfitted with modern passenger amenities. According to United’s VP in Denver, “This expansion gives us the space we need for further growth and helps ensure we continue providing an excellent customer experience even as volumes increase.”
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Maximizing Connections Through Denver
As United's Denver hub has grown, the airline has focused intensely on making connections as smooth and efficient as possible for connecting passengers. With nearly half of United's Denver customers connecting onward to other destinations, maximizing connectivity is crucial to providing a seamless travel experience.
According to United's head of DEN operations, "Enabling quick, stress-free connections is one of our top priorities. We want customers traveling through Denver to have confidence they'll reliably make their connecting flights."
To achieve this, United has optimized flight schedules and gate utilization to minimize connection times. The airline tries to keep connection times under 60 minutes for flights between its major hubs like Denver, Chicago and Houston. Tightly choreographed aircraft rotations ensure arriving flights pull into gates just minutes before departures push back.
United also groups departures to common destinations together at adjacent gates at peak times. As one Denver passenger described, "My connection was from C15 to C20, which took barely 5 minutes. Super fast and easy."
The layout of DEN has also enabled quick connections. The airport's linear design means connecting passengers don't need to switch concourses or pass through security again in most cases. Travelers simply walk off one flight and directly onto their connection.
Technology has been another focus for improving connections. United's app provides alerts if a passenger's inbound flight is delayed, allowing them to adjust plans. Self-service kiosks expedite the rebooking process if a connection is missed. And flight displays highlight departure gates once inbound flights have arrived.
To make tight connections less stressful, United agents regularly meet arriving flights to assist customers with tight turns. According to one agent, "We want to provide that human reassurance that you'll make your connection as promised."
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Regional Jets Replaced With Larger Aircraft
As United has grown its Denver hub, the airline has systematically upgauged aircraft sizes on many routes. Regional jets seating 50 to 70 passengers previously operated around 40% of United’s departures from Denver. In recent years, most of these small planes have been replaced with larger mainline narrowbody jets seating 100 to 200 passengers.
According to United’s VP of hub operations, “Regional jets play an important role, but our Denver customers were clear they wanted more seating options. In response, we’ve reconfigured our fleet to offer more premium cabin seats and more overall capacity.”
On routes of 500 miles or less, United has swapped out regional jets for Airbus A319s and A320s. These single-aisle planes have 20% to 30% more seats than the regional jets they replaced. Routes between 500 and 1,500 miles have moved from regional jets to Boeing 737-800s with around 60% more seats. On transcontinental flights over 2,000 miles, United has upgauged from 757s to 777s, 787 Dreamliners and recently acquired Airbus A321neos.
According to United’s network planning director, “The larger gauge aircraft have enabled us to meet growing demand from Denver. At the same time, we’re improving the customer experience with more first class and Economy Plus seating.”
Indeed, passengers out of Denver have welcomed these changes. As one loyal United flyer put it, “I used to dread getting stuck on those tiny regional jets. The large mainline planes are so much more comfortable even in economy, with better amenities.”
Another Denver passenger said, “I love being able to book my family together in first class on the A320s. The regional jets didn’t have a real first class, and never enough seats together.”
For its part, United says larger jets have resulted in better customer satisfaction scores, fewer involuntary downgrades due to oversales, and increased buy-ups to premium cabins. The switch has also reduced costs by cutting the number of aircraft required to operate the same frequencies.
Operationally, United is benefiting from greater fuel efficiency and more cargo capacity on flights operated with mainline versus regional aircraft. U.S. pilots also prefer flying larger jets which offer higher pay rates and enhanced career development opportunities.
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Denver Becoming a Global Gateway
United is positioning Denver as a major gateway not just for U.S. travel, but for global connectivity. Denver's central location makes it an efficient connecting point between United's domestic hubs and international destinations. By offering more direct long-haul flying and leveraging partnerships, United aims to make Denver a top choice for worldwide travel.
According to United's V.P. of global network planning, "Denver has a strategic advantage for accessing all of North America, Latin America and the Pacific. We are developing it into a premier U.S. gateway for travel between the Americas and Asia."
United is capitalizing on this by introducing new nonstop flights from Denver to global destinations. Recent additions include London Heathrow, Tokyo Narita, Panama City and Frankfurt. These new long-haul routes provide time savings versus connecting and make worldwide travel far more convenient for Denver area residents.
Partnerships also expand United's reach from Denver. Joining the Star Alliance gave United customers seamless connections from Denver to Lufthansa's enormous Germany hub and beyond. United's joint venture with All Nippon Airways opens up all of Japan just one stop from Denver.
Tech investments like United's ConnectionSaver tool also enhance global routing options via Denver. The tool automatically suggests alternative connections via partner airlines if customers are at risk of misconnecting on United.
Additional long-haul growth from Denver seems imminent based on United's track record and Denver International Airport's capabilities. United currently utilizes less than half of the widebody gates at DEN, signaling substantial remaining headroom.
The global gateway strategy benefits business and leisure travelers alike. As one Denver passenger described it, "With so many new nonstop international flights, I can now plan that dream vacation to Asia or Europe as easily as visiting my in-laws in Ohio."
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Competition Heating Up With Low-Cost Carriers
As United has rapidly expanded its Denver hub, competition has intensified with low-cost carriers aiming to grab a larger share of the market. Denver's status as one of the fastest growing metro areas in the country has attracted increased attention from budget airlines sensing an opportunity. Southwest, Frontier and Spirit have all ramped up service to and from Denver over the past several years, resulting in downward pressure on fares and a more diverse competitive landscape.
Frontier Airlines in particular has targeted Denver for growth as its largest base of operations. The airline has increased departures out of Denver by over 30% since 2019, padding its already commanding market share of around 18% of passenger traffic. This low-cost challenger boasts over 100 aircraft based at DEN and new routes constantly being introduced from the mile-high city. As one corporate travel manager described it, "Frontier has gotten super aggressive with their network out of Denver. They've added a ton of new nonstop destinations plus lots of frequency in competing with United on bread-and-butter routes."
Indeed, Frontier has not been shy about encroaching on routes coveted by United. The airline recently launched service between Denver and O'Hare, Newark, Houston Bush and other major United hubs. Frontier promotes these routes heavily with $29-$59 one-way fares aimed at undercutting United. For budget-conscious Denver travelers, it provides a viable alternative. As one leisure flyer put it, "I used to just default to United for habit and loyalty program perks. But now I always check Frontier first since they're way cheaper a lot of times."
Southwest has likewise amped up competition in Denver by deploying more of its fleet and taking advantage of new gates. Southwest offers over 200 daily departures from the airport, focusing on popular routes across the Western and Midwestern U.S. The airline is currently constructing a fancy new corporate headquarters at DEN, underscoring its commitment to the market. According to Southwest's CEO, "Denver is one of our top priority growth cities going forward. Our robust flight schedule and low fares provide a great option for Denver travelers."
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - Airport Investing Heavily in New Amenities
As United and other airlines have expanded rapidly in Denver, the airport is focused on keeping pace by investing hundreds of millions into new and improved amenities for travelers. According to Denver International Airport’s CEO, “With passenger volumes growing quickly, we want to make sure DEN continues providing an excellent experience. New amenities will help us maintain our reputation as one of the best airports in the world.”
In the past two years alone, DEN has opened a sparkling new “Great Hall” main terminal, an open-air plaza lined with restaurants and shops. The recently added gates in Concourse C are outfitted with nursing rooms for mothers, pet relief areas, and yoga spaces to relax in. Charging stations throughout the airport ensure devices stay powered. The airport is also upgrading WiFi equipment to provide faster, more reliable connections. As one road warrior described it, “I pass through DEN constantly, and they keep making improvements. The new Great Hall is gorgeous. I never lack places to eat or things to do on a layover.”
DEN’s recent partnership with Amazon to construct an “Amazon Hub Locker” location enables travelers to conveniently ship items home and shop online while at the airport. For entertainment, virtual reality simulations allow passengers to experience Colorado adventures like whitewater rafting and downhill skiing without leaving DEN. The airport also hosts live music performances and rotating art exhibitions in the terminal.
To enhance convenience, DEN introduced virtual queuing technology for TSA checkpoints so travelers can browse shops instead of standing in line. New self-driving shuttles whisk passengers across the long terminal concourses. Outside, smart parking technology helps drivers quickly locate empty spots among DEN’s 40,000 spaces. Rideshare and taxi pickup zones are now optimally positioned steps from baggage claim.
Recognizing the stress of air travel, DEN added a Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) of friendly dogs to comfort anxious passengers. Mini therapy horses are also deployed to bring smiles to travelers’ faces. Yoga rooms, napping pods, and a 24/7 United Club lounge provide sanctuary during hectic connections. One exhausted parent said, “Trying to travel alone with little kids can be a nightmare. But DEN actually makes it manageable with family rest areas, nursing rooms, therapy animals and such. I always breathe a sigh of relief when we land in Denver.”
Scaling New Heights: Inside United's Fast-Growing Hub at Denver International Airport - United Betting Big on Denver's Future
As United continues ramping up rapidly at its Denver hub, the airline is making it clear through both words and actions that it is betting big on Denver being a major part of its future. According to United's CEO Scott Kirby, the airline expects Denver to be one of its fastest growing hubs this decade thanks to the region's booming population and business environment.
"We have optimal facilities, strong local partnerships, and a built-in geographic advantage that will enable Denver to become an even more vital hub in United's network," explained Kirby at a recent media event in Denver. "We foresee lots of room for continued long-term growth here."
This bullish outlook is backed by major investments United is making into its Denver hub. The airline is spending over $200 million on renovations and expansions of its airport facilities over the next 3 years. United is also purchasing brand new training facilities near DEN where pilots and flight attendants can prepare using the latest technologies.
Additionally, United recently signed a long-term lease extension on its gates and other real estate at DEN. According to United's VP of Denver operations, "Ourlease now runs through 2034, which shows our commitment to Denver. We worked closely with DEN to structure an agreement allowing the flexibility for expansion as our operations scale up."
Local business leaders have applauded United's growing presence, pointing to the airline as a major driver of economic growth. The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation actively collaborates with United on win-win opportunities. This close coordination enables United to operate efficiently while also benefiting the community.
As one corporate relocation specialist described, "United's hub operations are definitely a major factor in attracting employers to the region. Having a huge base of flights here makes travel easy and reduces costs related to employee travel."
Leisure travelers also cheer United's ever-expanding service from Denver. A retiree who frequents United's Denver hub shared, "With all the new flights, I can now plan quick getaways on a whim to so many awesome destinations nonstop from here. The convenience makes the world feel smaller."