Go to the mobile version of this Web site.

Login | Contact Us | Site Map | Paid archives | Electronic edition | Subscription Questions | Extras

DIA passengers set May record

4.1 million travelers represent a 12.9% jump from year ago

Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 21, 2006 at midnight

Text size  

More Airlines & Aerospace

More stories »

Denver International Airport continues to grow at a rapid clip, posting a 12.9 percent jump in passengers in May and recording its fourth-busiest month ever.

The airport attracted 4.1 million travelers during the month, compared with 3.7 million in the same period last year, according to DIA's monthly traffic report. It's the first time the airport's passenger traffic has topped 4 million in May and marks the airport's 13th consecutive monthly record.

"It's the same song, 13th verse," DIA spokesman Chuck Cannon said. "The interesting thing is that May is not usually a really busy month, as it's between the end of ski season and summer. And it looks like June and July will be even busier, based on our observations."

The uptick in traffic will help DIA boost revenues as travelers spend more money on parking, rental cars and concessions, and the airport collects more money in passenger fees. The more money DIA makes, the more it can lower costs for airlines, which can help bring in new service.

Airlines nationwide are reporting record load factors - a measure of how full planes are - amid a decrease in overall industry capacity.

In Denver, though, carriers have been adding service this year amid soaring demand.

Through May, the number of arrivals and departures at DIA is up 6.4 percent from the same period in 2005.

In addition to domestic flights, Denver's top two carriers - United Airlines and Frontier Airlines - increasingly are focusing on Mexico and Canada, helping fuel a 14 percent rise in international traffic at DIA during the first five months of the year.

The airport also is benefiting from the arrival of Southwest Airlines in January, a move that brought more service to the city and helped lower fares. Southwest has carried a half- million passenger into and out of Denver since arriving here, according to DIA's monthly report.

At this rate, DIA will smash its record of 43.4 million passengers, set last year. Through May, traffic is up 11.8 percent from the same period in 2005.

or 303-892-2744