DIA likely to be among U.S. airports seeing highest traffic this holiday season

DENVER – Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the country, and with the holiday travel season approaching, there are some things travelers should know before heading to the airport.

An average of 1 million people travel through DIA from the Tuesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday after, the airport says.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is generally the heaviest-trafficked day, with an extra 40,000 people traveling through DIA than an average day. The Saturday and Monday after see about 20,000 more people than the airport usually does.

Last year, the Canine Airport Therapy Squad dogs were around to comfort stressed passengers.

DIA was the fourth-busiest airport last Thanksgiving, coming in behind LAX, Chicago O’Hare and San Francisco International.

Travel website SmarterTravel just named DIA the fourth-worst airport for travel over Thanksgiving and suggested anyone worried about overcrowding or flight delays to look into flying into or out of Colorado Springs instead.

But if you’re definitely going to be heading through DIA, make sure you get there early to head through the TSA checkpoint, and be sure your carry-on and personal item allowed are in-line with TSA standards.