# **Flight Route Analysis: Dallas (KDAL/KDFW) ↔ Denver (KDEN)**  
*Comprehensive Comparison of Routes, Altitudes, Distances, and Operational Trends*  

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## **1. Overview**  
This document analyzes flight routes between:  
- **Dallas Love Field (KDAL) and Denver International Airport (KDEN)**  
- **Dallas/Fort Worth (KDFW) and Denver International Airport (KDEN)**  

Key metrics compared:  
✔ **Most common routes**  
✔ **Altitude profiles**  
✔ **Distance efficiency**  
✔ **Outliers & weather detours**  
✔ **Aircraft preferences**  

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## **2. KDAL (Dallas Love) ↔ KDEN (Denver)**  

### **2.1 KDAL → KDEN (Westbound)**  
#### **Top Routes**  
| **Frequency** | **Route**                              | **Altitude**     | **Distance** |
|--------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
| 9            | `KKITY5 HUDAD NOSEW HALEN NIIXX3`     | FL360-FL400     | **723 sm**  |
| 7            | `KKITY5 HUDAD NOSEW KA39Y ZIGEE NIIXX3` | FL320-FL360   | 718 sm      |
| 6            | `SWTSR7 ROLLS TOTOE HALEN NIIXX3`     | FL260-FL400     | 734 sm      |

**Key Observations:**  
- **KKITY5** is the dominant departure (used in ~60% of flights).  
- **HALEN** and **ZIGEE** are primary arrival fixes.  
- **Shortest route:** `ESNYE7 ROLLS HALEN NIIXX3` (**678 sm**).  

#### **Altitude Profile**  
- **Most common:** FL360–FL400 (70% of flights).  
- **Lower options (FL260–FL340):** Used for traffic or weather.  

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### **2.2 KDEN → KDAL (Eastbound)**  
#### **Top Routes**  
| **Frequency** | **Route**                              | **Altitude**     | **Distance** |
|--------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
| 23           | `SLEEK2 SLEEK KA39Y STNLI JFRYE5`     | FL350-FL410     | **701 sm**  |
| 9            | `SLEEK2 SLEEK NOSEW STNLI JFRYE5`     | FL350-FL410     | 702 sm      |
| 6            | `SLEEK2 SLEEK EZEEE STNLI JFRYE5`     | FL350-FL390     | 702 sm      |

**Key Observations:**  
- **SLEEK2** is the primary departure (85% of flights).  
- **STNLI** is the critical Dallas waypoint.  
- **Shortest route:** `SLEEK2 SLEEK KA39Y STNLI HERBZ1` (**679 sm**).  

#### **Altitude Profile**  
- **Most common:** FL370–FL390 (optimized for fuel efficiency).  
- **FL410:** Rare, used for traffic separation.  

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## **3. KDFW (Dallas/Fort Worth) ↔ KDEN (Denver)**  

### **3.1 KDFW → KDEN (Westbound)**  
#### **Top Routes**  
| **Frequency** | **Route**                              | **Altitude**     | **Distance** |
|--------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
| 25           | `HUDAD2 HUDAD NOSEW KA39Y ZIGEE NIIXX3` | FL280-FL340   | **679 sm**  |
| 21           | `HUDAD2 HUDAD PNH ZIGEE NIIXX3`       | FL280-FL380     | 690 sm      |
| 17           | `LOWGN8 ROLLS TOTOE HALEN NIIXX3`     | FL260-FL380     | 698 sm      |

**Key Observations:**  
- **HUDAD2** is the dominant departure (60% of flights).  
- **ZIGEE** is the primary arrival fix.  
- **Shortest route:** `HUDAD2 NOSEW KA39Y ZIGEE NIIXX3` (**679 sm**).  

#### **Altitude Profile**  
- **Most common:** FL280–FL380 (85% of flights).  
- **FL260–FL300:** Used for traffic or climb constraints.  

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### **3.2 KDEN → KDFW (Eastbound)**  
#### **Top Routes**  
| **Frequency** | **Route**                              | **Altitude**     | **Distance** |
|--------------|---------------------------------------|-----------------|-------------|
| 94           | `SLEEK2 SLEEK EZEEE MDANO VKTRY2`     | FL270-FL410     | **672 sm**  |
| 8            | `SUDDZ1 SUDDZ CNX J15 CME BGS BOOVE7` | FL290-FL360     | 1007 sm     |
| 8            | `SLEEK2 SLEEK EZEEE MDANO JOVEM6`     | FL290-FL370     | 711 sm      |

**Key Observations:**  
- **SLEEK2** is used in 95% of flights.  
- **MDANO** is the key Dallas waypoint.  
- **Shortest route:** `SLEEK2 EZEEE MDANO VKTRY2` (**672 sm**).  

#### **Altitude Profile**  
- **Most common:** FL300–FL370.  
- **FL410:** Rare, used for optimal winds.  

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## **4. Key Comparisons**  

### **4.1 Distance Efficiency**  
| **Route**          | **Shortest Distance** | **Longest Detour** |
|--------------------|----------------------|--------------------|
| **KDAL → KDEN**    | 678 sm               | 1014 sm            |
| **KDEN → KDAL**    | 679 sm               | 1007 sm            |
| **KDFW → KDEN**    | 679 sm               | 957 sm             |
| **KDEN → KDFW**    | 672 sm               | 1007 sm            |

**Takeaway:**  
- **KDEN→KDFW is the most efficient** (672 sm).  
- **KDAL routes are slightly longer** due to airspace constraints.  

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### **4.2 Altitude Trends**  
| **Direction**      | **Typical Altitudes** | **Notes**                     |
|--------------------|----------------------|------------------------------|
| **KDAL → KDEN**    | FL360–FL400          | High altitude for traffic separation. |
| **KDEN → KDAL**    | FL370–FL390          | Optimized for fuel burn.      |
| **KDFW → KDEN**    | FL280–FL380          | More flexible lower options.  |
| **KDEN → KDFW**    | FL270–FL410          | Widest range.                |

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### **4.3 Weather & Traffic Detours**  
- **Common Detour Fixes:**  
  - **GNDLA/TBARR3** (southern Colorado) – Used for storm avoidance.  
  - **CNX/J15** (northern path) – Avoids mountain weather.  
- **KDAL vs. KDFW:**  
  - KDAL has fewer detour options due to smaller airspace.  
  - KDFW flights more frequently use **LOWGN8** for weather reroutes.  

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## **5. Recommendations**  
### **Optimal Routes**  
| **Direction**      | **Best Route**                          | **Distance** | **Altitude** |
|--------------------|---------------------------------------|-------------|-------------|
| **KDAL → KDEN**    | `ESNYE7 ROLLS HALEN NIIXX3`           | 678 sm      | FL360       |
| **KDEN → KDAL**    | `SLEEK2 SLEEK KA39Y STNLI HERBZ1`     | 679 sm      | FL370       |
| **KDFW → KDEN**    | `HUDAD2 HUDAD NOSEW KA39Y ZIGEE NIIXX3` | 679 sm    | FL340       |
| **KDEN → KDFW**    | `SLEEK2 SLEEK EZEEE MDANO VKTRY2`     | 672 sm      | FL340       |

### **Avoid Unless Necessary**  
- **SUDDZ1** routes (1000+ sm detours).  
- **GNDLA/TBARR3** paths (add ~200+ sm).  

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## **6. Conclusion**  
- **KDFW offers more efficient routing** than KDAL due to larger airspace.  
- **SLEEK2 (KDEN→KDFW/KDAL) and KKITY5/HUDAD2 (Dallas→KDEN) dominate.**  
- **Altitude flexibility** is greater for KDFW flights.  

**Next Steps:**  
- Wind-optimized routing.  
- Real-time weather impact analysis.  

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**Document Prepared By:** [Your Name/Aviation Analyst]  
**Date:** [Current Date]