Denver International (KDEN), Colorado
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Denver International Airport sits at 5,434 feet elevation on the eastern edge of the Denver metro area, roughly 13 nautical miles from the city center. KDEN is a Tier 1 airport by ops volume, with six paved concrete runways including a 16,000-foot primary and five secondary runways at 12,000 feet, supporting both high-volume airline traffic and a steady stream of business aviation movements. Customs and USDA compliance inspection services are available onsite, and the field operates on a 24-hour tower schedule.
Runways
Denver International has six paved runways. The longest, 16R/34L, is 16,000 ft long and 200 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Denver International has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available 24 hours a day, every day, and the airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Denver International has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals. A USDA compliance agreement is in place.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Denver International recorded 8,159 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July, August and December. Business aviation traffic at KDEN peaks in the summer months, with July and August posting the highest operations counts of the year, while November shows the lowest volume.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 787 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Denver International averages 18.8 days above 90°F in July and 29.2 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 89.9°F, and December the coldest, at 44.0°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Denver International has published operating constraints in six categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures, environmental, pavement strength and other notes.
Customs services are available, prior permission required.
Taxiway F7 is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 118 feet.
Departures from runways 08, 25, and 34R have a maintained clearway measuring 500 by 1000 feet with a 1.25 percent slope.
An informal runway use program is in effect 24 hours a day; contact airport management for noise abatement information.
Waterfowl and birds are present in the vicinity of the airport.
PCR VALUE: 1050/R/B/W/T.
The overhead passenger bridge on the south side of Concourse A provides 42 feet of tail clearance and 118 feet of wingspan clearance when the aircraft is on the taxiway centerline.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Denver International has five airfields within 20 NM. The closest is Colorado Air and Space Port (KCFO), 7.79 NM southeast.
Part of the Denver area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KDEN
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$2,400.00 catering order at KDEN.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the longest runway at KDEN?
The longest runway at Denver International Airport is 16R/34L, a 16,000-foot concrete runway with a width of 200 feet. The airport's five other runways, 07/25, 08/26, 16L/34R, 17L/35R, and 17R/35L, are each 12,000 feet long and 150 feet wide. All six runways are paved concrete, giving KDEN substantial capacity for heavy long-haul aircraft alongside business jet traffic. This runway configuration supports the airport's Tier 1 operations volume, with over 700,000 total annual operations recorded for 2025 per FAA TFMSC data.
Is customs available at Denver International Airport?
Yes, CBP inspection services are available onsite at KDEN, along with a USDA compliance agreement covering agricultural inspection needs. Customs availability is noted as prior permission required (PPR), so crews should coordinate clearance in advance of arrival rather than assuming walk-up service. This onsite capability places KDEN among airports where international arrivals can clear directly rather than diverting to a nearby customs-designated field. Operators planning international legs into Denver should confirm PPR requirements as part of their trip planning process.
Are there any wingspan restrictions on taxiways at KDEN?
Yes, Taxiway F7 at Denver International Airport is closed to aircraft with a wingspan greater than 118 feet. Separately, the overhead passenger bridge on the south side of Concourse A provides 42 feet of tail clearance and 118 feet of wingspan clearance when an aircraft is on the taxiway centerline. Operators of large-cabin or wide-body aircraft should account for these clearance figures when planning ground routing at KDEN. Dispatchers should verify current taxiway status before filing routings that depend on F7.
What noise abatement procedures apply at KDEN?
Denver International Airport runs an informal runway use program in effect around the clock, intended to manage noise impact on surrounding areas. Specific noise abatement details are handled through airport management rather than published as fixed procedures in the remarks. Crews operating at KDEN should contact airport management directly for current noise abatement guidance relevant to their arrival or departure runway. This informal program structure means noise-related runway assignments can vary and are not fixed by a static published rule.
What is the PCR pavement rating at KDEN?
The published pavement rating at Denver International Airport is listed as PCR VALUE: 1050/R / B/W / T. This figure is drawn directly from airport data and reflects the pavement classification rating for the airport's runway surfaces. Operators of heavy aircraft should reference this rating alongside individual runway dimensions, since KDEN's primary runway 16R/34L extends to 16,000 feet with a width of 200 feet. Dispatchers working weight and balance planning for KDEN should cross-check this PCR figure against their aircraft's own pavement classification number.