DEN Operations Passes Annual FAA Inspection with No Discrepancies for the Third Year in a Row

Denver International Airport (DEN) completed its annual facility and operations inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and certification inspectors found no discrepancies with DEN’s compliance under 14 CFR Part 139 regulations. This is the third year in a row and the sixth time in seven years that DEN has passed the annual certification inspection with zero findings.

The annual “FAR Part 139” inspection is conducted by the FAA Airport Safety & Standards branch and ensures the airport’s compliance with all applicable FAA regulations as part of the annual airport certification process. Airport Operating Certificates are issued by the FAA and serve to ensure safety in air transportation by requiring airports to meet certain operational and safety standards and provide services such as firefighting and rescue equipment.

“The entire team at DEN, including our federal partners and airlines, is dedicated to the safety of our passengers and employees,” DEN CEO Phil Washington said. “We remain focused on training, self-inspections, and maintenance of our critical assets so that we are operating in the best possible way. Having zero discrepancies for multiple years in our Part 139 inspection is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our team.”

The FAA’s inspection includes the following areas of DEN’s operations:

• Administrative, including airport files, paperwork, etc.
• Movement area, including runways, taxiways, pavement, markings, lighting, signs, safety areas and more
• Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), including a timed response drill, training records, equipment and emergency medical training
• Fueling facilities, including the DEN fuel farm, fuel trucks and associated safety training
• Night inspections, including nighttime runway, taxiway and apron lighting and signage

In 2022, DEN served 69.3 million passengers and was the third busiest airport in the world. With the recent announcement of DEN’s newest airline, Aer Lingus starting service to Dublin in May of 2024, the airport is now home to 24 airlines providing nonstop service to a total of 28 international destinations in 16 countries. Forecasts indicate DEN will continue to set passenger traffic records for 2023 with between 78 and 79 million passengers.