🇺🇸 Centennial Airport

Centennial Airport (APA, KAPA) is a public general aviation airport located 15 nautical miles (28 km) southeast of downtown Denver, Colorado, primarily in Arapahoe County with portions extending into Douglas County. It opened on May 12, 1968, as Arapahoe County Airport and was renamed Centennial Airport on July 13, 1984.

It is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, with 360,725 aircraft operations in 2023. The airport operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and its control tower is staffed continuously. Centennial Airport is financially self-sufficient, relying on fuel sales, leased land, and concession fees, and does not use local taxpayer money for its operations.

The airport serves a wide variety of users, including medevac and air ambulance services, military and Department of Defense, flight schools, corporate businesses, charter operations, and cargo. It is an international airport with 24/7 U.S. Customs services.

Centennial Airport has three asphalt runways: 17L/35R (10,000 by 100 feet), 17R/35L (7,001 by 77 feet), and 10/28 (4,800 by 75 feet). Its airspace is Class D and underlies Denver Class B airspace.

Notable features include its role as a reliever airport for Denver International Airport, its significant economic impact of $2.4 billion for the local and regional economy, and its commitment to sustainability, including offering unleaded Avgas and using Fluorine-Free Firefighting Foam. The airport is also home to over 125 businesses and supports more than 9,200 jobs. Beyond aviation, it hosts community attractions such as the Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight museum, a go-kart track, a family sports center, and a golf course.

*Sources researched: faa.gov, centennialairport.com, en.wikipedia.org, airnav.com*