When analysing Denver International Airport's impact on the economy, a regional perspective is key. DEN's economic energy extends farther than the local community - into the Denver metropolitan area, throughout the state of Colorado, and even into neighbouring states, which indirectly benefit from the airport's presence.

For example, neighbouring airports benefit from feeding their local passengers through Denver, and without it might not have any air service at all. Also it is a tourist gateway in its own right to many of the resorts and national parks of the West, which can be reached by regional flights from Denver.

Approximately 30,000 people work at Denver International - a population larger than 319 of Colorado's 341 towns. However DEN creates more than just airport jobs.

The Colorado Department of Transportation estimates that Denver International generates 76,000 jobs and a total payroll
of almost $3.3 billion. These additional jobs are with businesses associated with airport activity - either the moving of goods by air or serving visitors arriving in the state through DEN.

Combining the impact of airport tenants and aviation-dependant-businesses with the economic impact of visitors (taxes, restaurants, car rentals, hotel rooms, and shopping), Denver International contributes an estimated $22.3 billion to Colorado's economy.

One could make a case that Denver International impacts the national economy, too. As one of the major hub airports in the United States, it is vital to the US commercial aviation system. DEN's almost central location in the country makes it a natural connecting point for flights.

In 2009, 22 million people, or 44% of the airport's total passengers, made flight connections through Denver. The airport is now the fifth busiest in the US and 10th in the world.