Denver aims for more Airbus A380 flights amid global expansion efforts

In 2024, Denver welcomed approximately 82.3 million passengers and was ranked as the 10th busiest airport globally by passenger seat numbers in May 2025. Despite this ranking drop from sixth place in May 2024, Denver has ambitions for further growth. By 2045, it forecasts over 120 million passengers annually.

The airport's large land area—33,500 acres—positions it as the second-largest airport globally by area after King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia. This ample space allows for future expansion without physical constraints. As Washington stated, "We have unlimited space to grow."

Currently offering limited non-North American flights, Denver plans a $12 billion investment over ten years to become a more significant gateway for international airlines. Although most flights remain domestic or within North America, new routes could soon connect Denver with the Middle East and other regions.

Emirates already serves twelve US airports and flies around three million passengers on its US routes annually. Its largest capacity route is between Dubai and New York JFK. While there is no official word yet from Emirates about expanding to Denver, such an addition would mark another step in the airport's ongoing development as an international hub.