{"id":625,"date":"2025-10-07T21:23:56","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T21:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/?p=625"},"modified":"2025-10-09T10:26:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-09T10:26:51","slug":"dia-executives-paid-more-to-fly-to-spain-than-some-luxury-travel-options-for-the-ultra-wealthy-editorial","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/07\/dia-executives-paid-more-to-fly-to-spain-than-some-luxury-travel-options-for-the-ultra-wealthy-editorial\/","title":{"rendered":"DIA executives paid more to fly to Spain than some luxury travel options for the ultra-wealthy (Editorial)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Regardless of the ethics board\u2019s \u201ctechnical\u201d conclusion this week<\/a>, Denver residents know that it is unethical for a public employee to spend $19,200 on a ticket to Spain and back to Denver even if it is for an important work-related conference.<\/p>\n

Denver International Airport\u2019s CEO Phil Washington was wrong to allow himself and eight other executives to fly to Madrid in first-class and business class seats that cost an average of $12,000 per person. The final cost of the travel was $108,989, enough to hire another mid-level employee to help run one of the world\u2019s busiest airports.<\/p>\n

We found first-class tickets directly to Spain in April of this year for around $7,000. Yes, ticket prices fluctuate, but if prices are at a record peak, the not-too-difficult decision must be made to fly coach, or to add in a layover, or to skip this year\u2019s annual conference. We would expect our leaders at DIA to at least know how to book travel at a reasonable price.<\/p>\n

When does expensive travel cross over from a bad business decision to an ethical lapse?<\/p>\n

For example, it is not unethical for the owner of a private and prosperous company to spend $15,000 from the business coffers to book \u201cThe Residence\u201d on Etihad Airlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If a business, however, is about to declare bankruptcy and owes debts that need to be paid, it would be highly unethical for the CEO to pay the roughly $8,700 to fly La Premi\u00e8re<\/a>, what is described as a \u201cprivate suite\u201d on Air France from Denver to Paris this month, using what essentially is other people\u2019s money at that point.<\/p>\n

And for employees of a public entity \u2013 like the Denver International Airport \u2013 there is a higher standard, an expectation of frugality.<\/p>\n

Denver airport officials\u2019 salaries are paid for by fees and taxes on airlines, which are passed directly or indirectly on to the ticket prices for passengers. The more efficient operations at DIA are, the lower the fees on airlines are, and the savings, in theory, will get passed on to users. The end goal for employees at DIA is to serve the traveling public. They are not trying to make a profit so much as raise only the money necessary to serve the public effectively and efficiently. Every dollar misspent on luxury travel accommodations is a dollar that could remain with an airline or with a passenger. These dollars are not fungible.<\/p>\n

CBS Colorado reporter Brian Maass<\/a> did good work tracking down the public records that showed the cost of these flights, and we are glad someone reported the expenses directly to Denver\u2019s Ethics Commission for review.<\/p>\n