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Denver Airport Power Outage Delays 550 Flights

3/19/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Denver International Airport (DIA) experienced a March 18, 2026 power outage linked to equipment failure at an Xcel Energy substation.
The outage began around 9:20 a.m.
Power was restored by 11 a.m.
Operations were back to normal by noon.
The outage was isolated to one substation and continued to cause delays, with nearly 550 flights delayed by 5 p.m., while investigators review the cause.

History

Historical Context

Denver International Airport (DIA) opened on February 28, 1995, replacing Stapleton International Airport to accommodate growing air traffic. By 2023, it served approximately 77.8 million passengers annually, becoming a major hub for United Airlines. The March 18, 2026, power outage, disrupting nearly 550 flights, underscores the ongoing infrastructure challenges airports face as air travel demand continues to rise.

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Story summary

Denver International Airport (DIA) experienced a March 18, 2026 power outage linked to equipment failure at an Xcel Energy substation.
The outage began around 9:20 a.m.
Power was restored by 11 a.m.
Operations were back to normal by noon.
The outage was isolated to one substation and continued to cause delays, with nearly 550 flights delayed by 5 p.m., while investigators review the cause.

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