Passenger traffic was up nearly 13 per cent on high demand, more services and new destinations. Top DIA airlines, United and Frontier have been focusing on new destinations to Mexico and Canada, fueling the rise, especially in international travel. In May DIA recorded an estimated 4.1 million people through the airport. This is the 13th consecutive monthly record for DIA. DIA spokesman Chuck Cannon said, "It's the same song, 13th verse. 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."
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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.
Denver International Airport Website
Major Carriers: United Airlines, Frontier, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta Air Lines, Northwest, Continental, US Airways, and many more.
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