Denver International Airport is on a mission this week in hopes of rounding up an international carrier that will provide service to and from Asia.
"We feel we're underserved," says Laura Jackson, senior director research and marketing intelligence for the airport. "Our target is Tokyo."
The airport and the city of Denver have undertaken a public relations campaign called "Ascent to Asia", in an effort to bridge the two regions via air service. To highlight the bridge-building effort, DIA offered small wooden boxes of Celestial Seasonings tea bags, which are produced in Colorado.
The airport serves about 50 million passengers annually and generates $22 billion in economic impact for the state of Colorado.
In July, the airport began construction of a rail line station that will link the airport to a 120-mile system that extends into downtown Denver. It will be completed in 2014, followed by a new airport hotel in 2016.
Plans for expansion will never be hampered by lack of space as the airport is positioned on 137km² of land.
There are currently six runways, none of which intersect. One is 16,000 feet long and can accommodate a fully loaded larger aircraft taking off in the hot and high conditions of Denver, which is at an altitude of 1,645 metres.
Jackson says the airport does have its own set of challenges. "When do you grow? You don't want to over-extend yourself," says Jackson, referring to the need to achieve balance.
Also, it is not certain if the United and Continental airlines merger will have an impact on Denver, which is a hub for United.
Among international travellers, Denver is largely unknown, says Jackson. "We are trying to put out the image of a world class airport."
Source: Flight Daily News
