Denver International Airport ranks as the worst major U.S. airport for passengers making connecting flights, according to recent analyses of walkability and connection times. The airport’s sprawling layout and long distances between gates create significant challenges for travelers trying to transfer efficiently.
Data scientist Josh Koebert, who studied the connections experience at the 50 largest U.S. airports, highlighted Denver’s shortcomings in terms of walkability and total travel time between gates. The airport received scores of 10.9 for walkability and 14.1 for connection on a scale where the high score reached 50. In contrast, smaller airports such as Richmond International in Virginia scored above 46 in both categories. Denver’s design was criticized for lacking convenience and for forcing travelers to undertake lengthy walks or rides on its underground train system. The longest gate-to-gate journey can take up to 34 minutes, with typical concourse transfers averaging 16 minutes.
Travel experts and frequent flyers echoed these findings, noting the airport’s vast distances complicate travel plans, particularly for those with tight layovers. Ramsey Qubein, a Charlotte-based travel journalist who logs about 400,000 miles annually, expressed frustration with other major hubs like London Heathrow, but pinpointed Denver’s layout as especially problematic for connections.
Airports that perform well for connecting passengers tend to have compact terminal arrangements, efficient interterminal transit options such as trains or trams, clear signage, and the ability to stay within security during transfers. Brett Snyder, founder of the travel advisory service Cranky Concierge, summarized the ideal connection airport as one where passengers can minimize their time on the ground.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was cited as an example of a better design, having completed a project three years ago that created an uninterrupted, two-mile pedestrian route linking Terminals 1 through 8. As LAX allows passengers to remain airside when moving between terminals, it fosters smoother connections compared to airports like New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, where passengers often must abandon security and use an external train system during transfers.
Even with Denver’s issues, Snyder noted that the airport’s scenic mountain views offer a positive aspect but criticized the overall infrastructure as being ill-suited to heavy passenger connection traffic, describing it as more accommodating to winter operations than efficient transfers.
Denver International’s sprawling terminal placement and transit challenges serve as a cautionary example of how airport design can impact the traveler experience, especially for those catching connecting flights under time pressure.