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Denver Passengers “Fare” Well
You’ve no doubt heard that some airlines have added ticket charges for checked baggage, snacks, and even pillow and blanket sets. But there is good news concerning air fares – especially for Denver travelers.

Low-cost carriers, which generally offer lower fares, now carry about 40 percent of all domestic enplaned passengers in the United States, up from about 14 percent in 1995 (U.S. DOT). Network carriers have been forced to match some of the low-cost carrier relaxed-fare rules, such as providing last-minute deals, which has allowed more passengers to purchase lower fares.  And, use of the Internet allows greater competition and almost instant price comparisons that give a customer an opportunity for unprecedented low-fare shopping.

Not only is DIA the hometown for low-cost carrier Frontier, but Southwest Airlines arrived in 2006 and has increased its market share to nearly 20 percent. Throw in AirTran and jetBlue at DIA and almost 45 percent of DIA’s total passenger capacity is on low-cost airlines. Denver’s lower fares have also resulted in tremendous market stimulation, propelling DIA’s annual passenger traffic above the 50 million mark in 2008.

How the DOT Measures Fare Data The DOT measures average trip cost and change in fare in two ways and produces different points for analysis. First, it measures by average fare, the basic standard used widely in the airline industry to calculate fares. Second, the DOT looks at the Air Travel Price Index, an index that documents quarterly changes in airline prices since the first quarter of 1995. The ATPI measures changes in airline ticket prices used on identical routings and identical classes of service. ATPI measures the rise in airfares. Average fares show the increased use of lower fares. The results reflect airline industry trends that show more passengers are flying on lower air fares, even though fare levels continue to rise. Additional information about average fares, including fares for the top-100 airports based on U.S.-originating domestic passengers, can be found on the U.S. DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics Web site. That page also has information about the ATPI, including indexes for foreign-origin itineraries and the top-85 air travel markets based on originating passengers. Fourth-quarter 2008 average fare data and the ATPI will be released on April 29, 2009.

DIA: Sustainability with Altitude
“DIA: Sustainability with Altitude” is a slogan that will become very familiar around Denver International Airport as the Environmental Services Section of the Planning and Development Division continues to find innovative ways to ensure the airport is a leader in sustainability.

Highlighting this slogan is the new DIA 2008 Environmental Annual Report which was just released, providing statistics and information on environmental accomplishments and progress towards specific goals realized in 2008 in addition to summarizing 2009 planned programs and initiatives.

In the report, the major push for 2009 is sustainability. “Sustainability means that you look at projects, programs, etc. – essentially everything you do, more holistically,” said Janell Barrilleaux, director of environmental programs. Specifically, it is important to look at the economic impact, the environmental impact, and the social implications of decisions made. “You don’t necessarily pick the most environmentally friendly alternative, but you at least consider the environmental impacts as a part of your decision-making process,” she said.

Some of the new environmental initiatives at DIA for 2009 include: conducting an organic collection and composting pilot program and evaluating the feasibility of a permanent program; offering DIA passengers the opportunity to purchase carbon offsets through a partnership with Colorado Carbon Fund; performing wind-monitoring pilot tests to evaluate the feasibility of installing wind turbines at the airport to generate electrical energy; and continuing to pursue pollution-prevention, energy-reduction, and waste-minimization targets.  To view DIA’s 2008 Environmental Annual Report, and for more information on DIA’s environmental programs, visit www.flydenver.com/environmental.

DIA Art: Pure Gold

	Gold! Alluring, gleaming gold. Without this precious metal, Denver and Colorado might not exist. In 1860 the population of Denver was approximately 800, and by the end of the Colorado Gold Rush, more than 35,000 people lived in the state. Denver International Airport, the gateway to Colorado and the region, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the gold rush with an exhibit. From May through August 2009, DIA visitors can see The Colorado Gold Rush Exhibit in the walkway between Jeppesen Terminal and the A Gates bridge, on the way to security screening. The exhibit brings this dynamic period of Colorado history to life through maps, guidebooks, letters, poetry, music, and other documents that have survived more than a century. These artifacts illustrate the era through language and stories, and though representation of the lives of the prospectors and pioneers who gave birth to Colorado.

Other Temporary Art Exhibits at DIA:

Berthoud Historical Society: Images of Agriculture from Colorado’s Little Thompson Valley

• End of April through September 2009
• A Gates Mezzanine Gallery and C Gates Center Core

ABEND Gallery

• March through June 2009
• Jeppesen Terminal Gallery, Level 6 Atrium East

Creative Capitol Northwest Colorado Exhibition – first of four installments

• January through May 2009
• Gates Bridge, Y-Juncture Gallery

Colorado Lt. Governor O'Brien Honors Heroes of Flight 1404

Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien gave personal thanks March 9 to the Red Cross volunteers and Denver International Airport firefighters for their efforts to save all the passengers onboard Continental Flight 1404 on Dec. 20, 2008. "New York has its 'Miracle on the Hudson' and these are the heroes of the 'Miracle on the Plains,'" said Lt. Gov. O'Brien. Continental Flight 1404 was headed for Houston when it ran off the left side of Runway 34R and caught fire after stopping a half-mile later. There were no fatalities among the 110 passengers and five crew members. Thirty-eight people suffered injuries.

Eh, Have You Heard About Our New Service to Canada?
This summer, United will add two new nonstop destinations to Denver's already strong lineup of Canadian service. The new nonstop destinations are:

• Ottawa, Ontario (YOW), beginning June 4
• Regina, Saskatchewan (YQR), beginning July 1

The Ottawa service will be once-daily on United Express, operated by Shuttle America, with a 70-seat Embraer 170 regional jet. United Express affiliate SkyWest will fly nonstop twice daily on a 50-seat Canadair regional jet to and from Regina. United also added new twice-daily service between Denver and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (YXE) in September 2008. With these new destinations, a total of nine Canadian cities can be reached nonstop from Denver.

51.2 Million Passengers
Denver International Airport passenger traffic for 2008 topped the 50 million mark for the first time in Denver aviation history.

Chops and Ale

Travelers are lining up for local flavor at the new Denver ChopHouse & Brewery, located in DIA's Concourse A Center Core. You can order bison burgers, salmon, salads, select cuts of steak, among other entrees, and can wash your food down with Denver-brewed ales and lagers.

DIA's newest restaurant opened April 6. This popular bar and eatery is part of the Denver-based Rock Bottom Brewery Co. Its flagship restaurant in Downtown Denver has been part of the city's restaurant scene for more than 13 years. Designed to evoke the feeling of a 1940s pub, the ChopHouse at DIA will feature a brass bar with beer taps.

Accents of exposed brick and wood set the décor, while diners relax as they listen to '40s-era big band beats. The ChopHouse menu offers hearty breakfast items, such as the "Brewer's Breakfast" (diners can order the beer extra), as well as appetizers and lunch and dinner entrees. A rotating seasonal selection of at least six ChopHouse brews will be on tap, including an American "Pale Ale" and a Bavarian-style "Dark Munich Lager."  Entrees from the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus can be ordered "to go" for passengers who want to take a taste of Denver with them.

DIA's concession program consists of 167,457 square feet of retail space that includes more than 140 merchants offering an exciting culinary, fashion and retail experience.

The concessionaire program generates more than $245 million in annual gross sales and more than $38 million in revenue to the airport. The ChopHouse is the latest addition to DIA's growing list of local restaurants, which includes Tamales by La Casita, New Belgium Hub Brewery, and the Boulder Beer Tap House.