As Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s tenure in office comes to an end, pundits on the right and left will have plenty to say about his stewardship of that office. One point we chattering-class types can agree upon is that through his leadership our state’s Capital has increased its global reach. Mayor Hancock understands the significance of Denver as a national and international gateway to Colorado, the region, and miles beyond. His administration’s work to expand international flights to and from Denver International Airport will benefit the city for many years to come.
Sometimes farsighted decisions are underappreciated at the time they are made. Back when Denver’s Stapleton International Airport was a bustling midcontinent hub, the sixth busiest airport in the nation, I wondered why we needed a new airport.
I worked a college job selling tourist kitsch on a concourse and the facility seemed adequate to me. A couple of years later, Denver International Airport opened 16 months late, and billions over budget. The faulty luggage system cast my suitcase into the abyss on my first flight back to Denver confirming my suspicion: The project was a boondoggle and an epic one at that.
But I was shortsighted; these were merely temporary setbacks in a truly grand plan. The cost was worth it. Today DIA is the third busiest airport in the world, generating over $33 billion in economic activity annually and supporting 259,000 jobs. Mayor Federico Peña was a visionary. He
saw what the city would become, not merely a midcontinent hub but a global destination.
Mayor Hancock has continued that work. Thanks to his administration’s efforts and that of the route development team at DIA, the airport now boasts 17 additional direct international flights. They have developed partnerships with seven new international carriers. The development of these routes is part of the Vision 100 plan, so named for the anticipated 100 million annual passengers arriving or departing from DIA.
Although built to accommodate 50 million passengers annually, the airport has expanded to host 69 million annual passengers. The Vision 100 strategic plan outlines how the airport will build demand and capacity to serve 100 million travelers. In 2010, roughly 2 million passengers
traveled to or from Denver on international flights. Last year 3.2 million international passengers passed through its gates and more are expected this year.
During Hancock’s tenure, the airport added direct flights to many popular destinations in Mexico, Central America, Europe and Japan. Airports in cities like Munich, Panama City, Paris, Reykjavik, Tokyo, and Zurich are popular destinations and important air traffic hubs. Denver’s direct flight to Reykjavik, Iceland, for example, has increased overall flights to Europe through DIA by a significant percentage. DIA isn’t just a hub for tourist, education, government, and business travel; commercial goods also flow through the airport. Overall, the addition of these 17 direct international flights has been a $4 billion economic boon.
Recently, the mayor and his team visited Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to advance plans for a direct flight. Denver has no direct flight to Africa. Addis Ababa and Cairo were selected as the best potential partner cities to establish direct flights based on potential economic benefit, demand, air service markets to other destinations in Africa and the Middle East, and other criteria. Some criticized the cost of the trip — $107,568 — much of it covered by the airport’s enterprise fund. The critics were shortsighted given the potential benefit of a direct flight to Africa. If Mayor-elect Mike Johnston’s administration continues to prioritize global access through DIA, the airport could have its first direct flight to Africa in under a year.
“Successful cities are connected cities,” Mayor Hancock told me, “They are global. They think globally.” He is right. Thanks to his leadership and the hard work of his administration and DIA partners, Denver is more globally connected than ever. This is a legacy to be proud of.
Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer
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