Denver International Airport braces for nearly 1 million passengers around Fourth of July

“Flags won’t be the only thing flying during the 4th of July holiday,” Denver International Airport said in a post on its X account.

DIA expects more than 878,000 passengers to pass through its security checkpoints between June 28 through July 9, according to a news release.

Nationally, Transportation Security Administration officials calculated that more than 16.2 million people will use TSA security screening from July 3 to July 8.

At DIA, June 28, June 30, July 7 and July 8 were expected be the busiest days during the holiday week, with more than 321,000 passengers moving through security screening — a 4.7 percent increase from the same period in 2023.

Peak travel times include 3 a.m. to 4:30 a.m., 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

To handle the wave of passengers, new DIA trains were unveiled Tuesday — replacing decade-old ones that had been breaking down more in recent years.

The new train cars will “increase the number of passengers that can be moved to the gates by approximately 850 people per hour,” said DIA CEO Phil Washington.

“Today marks an important milestone, as our train to the concourses play a crucial role in the passenger experience at DEN," Washington said in a statement. "With 77.8 million annual passengers and millions more expected year over year, we know we need the most reliable, durable and efficient infrastructure and systems to ensure as seamless an experience as possible.

"Over the next 15-18 months, we will replace more than half of our entire fleet and look to expand the number of train cars that are running at any given time to better meet current and future demand.”

These energy efficient train cars provide more than 30 percent improvement in energy consumption because of their lightweight aluminum car bodies, construction using recyclable materials, and a more efficient use of energy, according to a news release.

A total of 26 cars will become operational now and over the next year.

“Alstom is proud to begin a new chapter in our 30-year relationship with Denver International Airport, and to be part of the growth story at DEN, one of the busiest airports in the world," said Michael Keroullé, president of Alstom Americas, in a news release. "This next generation of airport mobility will bring better service for riders and a reduced environmental impact for the surrounding community. Manufactured in the U.S., and specifically designed for the airport, these trains are built to provide service frequency, safety and comfort for travelers from around the world." 

Of the 31 train cars currently in DIA's fleet, 16 are 29 years old, according to airport officials. They exceeded "their useful life with more than 1.6 million miles."

With a record number of flights through DIA this year, TSA reminds travelers to take this advice:

• Pack smart and remember the 3-1-1 rule — liquids must be 3.4 ounces or less and placed in a one quart-sized bag. Passengers are allowed to have one of these bags in their carry-ons.
• Be checkpoint ready and bring a valid ID.
• Arrive early and please be patient.
• Listen to directions provided by TSA officers.
• Leave your fireworks at home. Fireworks are considered a type of explosive and cannot travel in either carry-on or checked luggage.

“We have been anticipating the arrival of the Fourth of July travel period and planning our security operations to ensure that we are prepared for the surge in travelers who will be coming to the airport. TSA will be on the job with security screening officers extending their shifts to ensure travelers have a smooth trip through DEN,” said TSA Federal Security Director for Colorado Douglas Cruz in a news release.

DIA also encourages passengers traveling during this time to arrive at least two hours in advance of their boarding time and check FlyDenver.com for live security wait times.

During this “busiest season of travel,” travelers can access any one of Denver’s three security checkpoints, Bridge, South, and the recently-opened West.

West contains 17 screening lanes, which screen about 45%-48% of the travelers, a spokesperson for TSA told the Denver Gazette via email.

“Things have been very efficient due to standardized equipment in the security checkpoint. We are very pleased with the investment the airport made into the checkpoint and it is paying off, especially during busy travel periods like we are in now,” added the spokesperson.

The checkpoint opened in early February, and it features new face matching technology that compares the traveler’s photo on the government-issued ID against an in-person, real-time photo, according to TSA in a news release.

The scanners also show boarding pass information, meaning that passengers won’t have to show boarding passes as long as they’re traveling with a government-issued ID.

Passengers going through the West security checkpoint and certain lanes in Bridge and South will not have to remove travel-size liquids and electronics from their carry-on bags because the checkpoint is equipped with computed tomography (CT) X-ray scanners, according to the TSA.

The CT scanners create a 3D image of the contents of the bag, giving the X-ray operator enhanced screening capabilities.

“We are preparing for the future in a variety of ways, including renovating the Great Hall, adding gates to concourses, and adding capacity to the train to the gates,” said Washington in a statement.