The Airchive-Denver International and Stapleton

	Denver International Airport Denver International Airport has been both a blessing and a curse since it first opened on February 28, 1995. On the positive side: DIA is the largest airport in the world in land size; At 53 square miles it’s 3 times as big as DFW and 5 times as large as Manhattan. The terminal (designed by Fentress Bradburn) is an architectural and user friendly marvel; and it’s 6 runways mean fewer delays even in the harsh front range weather. On the negative side: DIA opened 18 months late; it’s costs spiraled from 1.5 to 5.3 billion dollars; DIA is located some 30 miles from downtown in the middle of an empty prairie; and its landing fees are so high that it is almost a monopoly for United meaning high costs for pax flying there. United controls some 80% of flights there, with low-cost carrier Frontier increasing market share as United weakens. The balance of the airline’s control less than 10% of the traffic. Continental was Denver’s second hub carrier but the cost of DIA and Continental’s weakened position caused it to cut service to 9 flights per day down from over 100 by opening day.

	DIA Interiors - 1999 DIA has 3 concourses with the bulk of flights concentrated on United’s midfield B Concourse. The concourses are connected by an undeground train.

	Lorenzo’s Bridge - 1999 “Lorenzo’s Bridge” connects the close-in concourse A with the landside terminal. The bridge received this nickname as it was specified for the controversial ex-Continental president who lobbied for it and Continental to be on the closest terminal. Continental wound it’s hub down before DIA ever opened, partly because DIA’s costs were too high at the time for CO’s precarious financial position. Low cost carrier, Frontier has now claimed many of the gates. A320s are the largest craft that can pass under the bridge. A few years ago, An America West 757 passed under the bridge causing damage to both it and the airplane.
	Frontier 737 0 1999 17 years after the demise of it’s predecessor, Frontier has achieved great success as Denver’s only low cost and home town carrier. With the absence of Southwest, Jet Blue, Air Tran, and the weakening of Hub carrier United, Frontier has carved out an excellent niche for itself. Frontier operates a mixed fleet of 737-300s and Airbus A-320s from the originally intended Continental Concourse A. Frontier completed a deal with Airbus to be it’s exclusive supplier for the next 20 years as the 737s are sold off.
	A320 wing A dusk shot taken in 2001 as my United A-320 flight arrived into DIA from Miami.
	United 747-400 - 2002 747-400s are a rare site at DIA. UA operates them to Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. I have flown twice to LAX on what must be the shortest range 747-400 flights in the world outside Japan.
	Air Canada Trans-Commemorative A-320 - 2002 The best shot I could get of the Air Canada A-320 wearing 1950s era Trans Canadian colors.
	United Airlines Boeing 757 at B Concourse Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United B Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 737s at B Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 757 at B Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 737 at B Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 757 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 737 in 2004 livery - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	A Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 777 - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 787 at B Concourse - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Ramp Shots - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 757 - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United Boeing 767 - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United 737 at Night - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United 757 at Night - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United 777 in 2004 livery at Night - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	United 757 at Night - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	Concourse A Snow Operations at Night - 2007 Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	737 Wing on Landing Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	737 Wing on Landing Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	Runway and Take-Off Image Courtesy: Paul Wickstrom
	Turbulent Skies DIA’s location on the front range of the Rocky mountain’s can make for some very stormy, unpredictable, and hence turbulent weather. These shots were taken on one of those days. The UA flight I was on was the 2nd flight to take-off after the airport closed due to severe weather.
	Sunset After The Storm The skies above Denver are particularly beautiful after weather has moved through.
	Stapleton Denver’s Stapleton International Airport closed on February 27, 1995. It was loathed by most, tolerated by others. Stapleton’s convenient location was a plus. Its small, cramped terminal, ramp, and runways were definite negatives. The frequent bad weather closures actually caused Southwest to pull because it could not maintain it’s 20 minute turn-arounds or a reliable schedule. These images were taken of the now defunct airfield in August 1999. Inside, there were timetables and newspapers scattered about dated on its last day of operation. In the background of the ramp image is Frontier I’s old maintenance base.

	Denver Stapleton Airport - 1970s Stapleton was completely closed down in 1995 with the opening of Denver International Airport. The airport real estate is currently being redeveloped for housing and retail.