DIA’s global traffic increases with new flights to Italy, Canada and Mexico

The unveiling of four new direct international flights from Denver International Airportincluding a first direct flight to Rome, has fueled DIA’s emergence as a global hub with international air traffic increasing more than twice as fast as domestic travel.

Aeromexico on Saturday will announce nonstop flights from DIA to Monterrey and Guadalajara, airport officials said, and United Airlines officials unveiled Thursday the 5,563-mile flight to Rome starting May 1, along with a flight to Regina, Canada.

Travelers with DIA can now fly non-stop to 33 destinations in 18 countries. These destinations include nine in Europe, eight in Mexico, seven in Canada, five in Central America, three in the Caribbean and one in Asia.

The new flights unveiled this week are expected to accelerate growth at DIA, where officials expect a record 4.6 million international travelers this year, up from 3.9 million in 2023, which was up about 20% from 2022 , airport officials said.

International air traffic increased by 16.4% between October 2023 and October 2024, compared with a 6.7% increase in domestic flights, the latest airport data shows.

The new flights demonstrate “extraordinary progress” toward Denver leaders’ goal of expanding global connections, said Laura Jackson, the airport’s vice president of air service development.

Population growth along Colorado’s Front Range and a relatively high-wage workforce have favored international flights. DIA analysts also cite the diversity of Colorado’s population, including residents with relatives abroad, as a factor, Jackson said.

Surveys break down DIA’s international travel as 29% for business, 34% for leisure and 37% for personal reasons.

“It’s a healthy, resilient mix that helps insulate Denver from downturns in any type of travel demand,” Jackson said. “Another important factor that has driven these increases is that Denver, Colorado, is an attractive and unique inbound destination, both for tourism and for business conventions.”

Concurrent growth in nonstop domestic flights, as DIA becomes United Airlines’ busiest hub, further increases the flow of travelers to long-haul transatlantic and Pacific flights, she said. “That’s the power of the hub.”

United’s new direct flight connecting Denver to Rome will be seasonal and run from May 1st to September 24th. The flight to Regina starts May 15.

“This expansion strengthens Denver’s position as a global hub and gives our community even greater connection to the world,” said DIA CEO Phil Washington.

Over the past year, DIA attracted Viva Airlines with direct flights to Monterrey, Mexico, which at the time was a new destination. Ireland’s Aer Lingus launched non-stop flights to Dublin on 17 May. On June 11, Turkish Airlines announced a 13-hour, 6,130-mile flight from Denver to Istanbul, the longest nonstop route from DIA.

This week, United officials also unveiled new nonstop flights to six U.S. cities: Buffalo, New York; Pensacola, Florida; Peoria, Illinois; North Bend, Oregon; Redding, California; and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Flights from DIA to domestic destinations in 2025 are expected to number 187, according to airport data.

United added nonstop flights last year to Harlingen, Texas; Fairbanks, Alaska; and West Palm Beach, Florida. In 2025, United is scheduled to add a new nonstop flight to Butte, Montana, beginning January 3rd, and Allegiant Airlines plans a nonstop flight to Stockton, California, beginning May 22nd.