Quarterly Airport Update

Janurary – March, 2026

Quarter in Numbers 

Aircraft Operations
View graphs

75,243

YTD: 75,243

Medevac Operations
View graph

1,832

YTD: 1,832

Aircraft operations by day of week graph
Top airports chart for aircraft operations
Medevac operations by day graph
Military Operations

457

YTD: 457

International Arrivals

312

YTD: 312

Jet A Fuel Sold

3,476,114 Gallons

YTD: 3,476,114 Gallons

100LL Fuel Sold

137,791 Gallons

YTD: 137,791 Gallons

UL94 Fuel Sold

31,836 Gallons

YTD: 31,836 Gallons

Snowfall Total

23.88"

YTD: 23.88"

Busiest Day of the Quarter

Jan 28, 2026

1,370 Operations

Average Operations per Day

836

 

 

Community Photo of the Quarter:

Photo by Jack O'Connor, @planephotographer_13

A jet aircraft flying against a clear blue sky, with the moon partially visible in the background.

Runner Up Gallery

The image features a military fighter jet with a unique camouflage pattern, parked on a runway at night.
Mark Moreno, @apaaero
A shiny vintage airplane with a red nose takes off, captured in motion against a blurred landscape.
Kaleb Gill, @kalebgphotos
A jet airplane departing an airport with a control tower and hangars in the background on a clear day.
Ryan Trujillo, @ryan_trujillo_photo
Several small aircraft are lined up on a runway, with blue skies and distant scenery visible.
Ryder Williams, @centennial_aviation
A large private jet descends through a cloudy sky, with a smaller aircraft flying below it.
Jack O'Connor, @planephotographer_13
A dramatic sunset illuminates the sky with red and orange hues, silhouetting an airport control tower and buildings below.
Andrea Drinkhouse, @dfpc_mma
An orange aircraft flying above an industrial landscape with runways, buildings, and some clouds in the sky.
Tommy Graham, @kapa_flyer *Image captured by Microsoft Flight Simulator
The image features a military fighter jet with a unique camouflage pattern, parked on a runway at night.
A shiny vintage airplane with a red nose takes off, captured in motion against a blurred landscape.
A jet airplane departing an airport with a control tower and hangars in the background on a clear day.
Several small aircraft are lined up on a runway, with blue skies and distant scenery visible.
A large private jet descends through a cloudy sky, with a smaller aircraft flying below it.
A dramatic sunset illuminates the sky with red and orange hues, silhouetting an airport control tower and buildings below.
An orange aircraft flying above an industrial landscape with runways, buildings, and some clouds in the sky.

Want to share your photo in the next Quarterly Airport Update? Submit your photo, name, and social media handle (optional) to Samantha at sblymyer@centennialairport.com

 

 

News & Updates this Quarter

▶ Centennial Airport Runway 5K SOLD OUT

Registration for the 2026 Runway 5K, Hotdogs & Airplanes, opened on February 18 and has officially sold out with over 1,800 participants! Thank you for the incredible support, we can’t wait to welcome runners on Saturday, June 6. Visit our 5K website for event details and updates.

Three people in food-themed costumes pose on a runway, celebrating the sold-out 2026 Runway 5K event.

 

▶ Air Traffic Control Tower Major Repairs Project

Our Air Traffic Control Tower Major Repairs project is still underway. Nightly tower closures for cab construction and equipment upgrades, which took place from March 2 through April 3, has now been completed.

We replaced the original beacon atop our Air Traffic Control Tower (built in 1985). Now, a new, upgraded (and smaller!) beacon is shining bright.

The image shows two setups: an industrial light mounted in a storage area and a high-intensity light on a rooftop with workers.
Left: old beacon, right: new beacon

 

▶ Community Space & Observation Area – Visioning Underway

Our Board of Commissioners approved a Scope of Work with Wenk Associates to begin the visioning phase for a new Outdoor Aviation Community Space, including a playground and airport observation tower, marking the first step in shaping this future public amenity.

 

▶ Scholarship Opportunity

Our Scholarship Program is back open for 2026! One recipient from each of the following categories will receive an award of up to $10,000, disbursed directly to their college or training institution: Aviation Management, Professional Pilot, or Aircraft Maintenance / A&P Mechanic. The deadline to apply is April 15, 2026 at 11:59pm. Visit our Scholarship page for information or to apply today! 

Three individuals hold certificates of scholarship, standing in front of a patterned glass wall, smiling for the photo.
2025 Scholarship Recipients; Tatum Rasmussen; Aircraft Maintenance Scholarship, Alexander Buchanan; Professional Pilot Scholarship, and Jacob Ablanczy; Aviation Management Scholarship

 

▶ Employment Opportunity (We're Hiring!)

We are hiring a Senior Fleet Maintenance Technician / Heavy Equipment Mechanic to help keep our fleet and critical equipment operating at their best. To learn more about the open position and to apply, visit our Careers page. 

A snow plow clears snow on an airport runway during a snowstorm, with runway markers visible in the foreground.
A piece of the Airport's Snow Removal Equipment

 

▶ Airport Public Tours are Back!

We invite you to join us for a tour at one of the busiest general aviation airports in the nation. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to explore Centennial Airport—visit our Airport Tours page for more information!

The image shows a lineup of several aircraft on a runway, including a smaller plane in the foreground and larger jets behind it.
Aircraft lined up on Taxiway A

 

▶ Honoring CAOA Leadership Service

Airport Director Mike Fronapfel was honored with a leather jacket recognizing his service as President and Past President of the Colorado Airport Operators Association (CAOA), celebrating his leadership and contributions to aviation across the state.

Two men are posing together, smiling, in a conference setting, wearing name tags and business attire. Background features a landscape photo.
Mike Fronapfel, Airport Director, and Dylan Heberlein, CAOA President

 

 

Did you Know?

  • There are approximately 5,000 public-use airports in the United States. Out of all of those, Centennial Airport ranked as the 36th busiest airport in 2025. That ranking includes every airport in the country that's open to the public - including major commercial hubs like O’Hare, Atlanta, and of course, Denver International Airport.
     
  • In 2025, Centennial Airport supported 6,107 lifesaving flights, averaging 16.7 medical evacuation (Medevac) operations per day.

 

Aircraft Spotlight

EA-18G Growler “Vader 1-1” from VAQ-209 “Star Warriors” – piloted by Commander Jason Robinson as he took his legendary final flight after 21 years of service.

A military jet, likely a fighter aircraft, is on a runway with mountains in the background and a clear blue sky.
The image shows the tail of a military aircraft featuring a design with a character resembling a prominent figure from science fiction.

 

Want to Learn More about Centennial Airport?

Explore more about who we are, what we do, and the history behind one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports: About Us | History

Follow Us @FlyCentennial

 

Stay Connected!

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