DENVER- Denver International Airport (DEN) employees are questioning CEO Phil Washington over expensive business-class flights for executives. The trip to a conference in Madrid cost the airport over $165,000, with one United Airlines (UA) ticket priced at $19,194.21.

Workers expressed concerns about the ethical implications of such high spending while frontline staff face budget constraints. Washington defended the decision, calling it an investment in leadership development.

Denver Airport CEO’s $19,000 Flight

At a quarterly town hall meeting for Denver International Airport (DEN) employees, an anonymous worker challenged CEO Phil Washington on the decision to approve expensive business class tickets for a three-day conference in Madrid.

The employee highlighted a $19,194.21 ticket, noting it “creates a rift in sentiment between frontline and senior leadership.”

The trip, attended by Washington and eight executive staff members, cost approximately $165,000, averaging $18,000 per person for flights, conference fees, hotels, and meals on United Airlines (UA).

Washington defended the expenditure, emphasizing the conference’s value for professional development.

He attributed high ticket costs to late bookings, stating, “Some travel requests came in a little later,” causing prices to spike.

However, records from a CBS News investigation revealed most tickets were purchased months in advance, contradicting claims of last-minute bookings.

Travel consultant Robert Laney expressed disbelief at the costs, suggesting that waiting could have reduced fares to $8,000–$9,000 per ticket.

Policy Under Review

Amid the growing backlash, CEO Washington announced that Denver International Airport (DEN) is reassessing its travel policy.

“We are reviewing our policy. There are some revisions we could make to that policy,” he said, although no immediate changes have been finalized or disclosed.

An airport spokesperson confirmed that the current review will cover the entire travel procedure, from initial requests and booking to reimbursement processes.

The aim, according to Washington, is to ensure future decisions reflect fiscal responsibility without compromising professional development goals.

Despite the controversy, Washington maintained his position, stating, “I stand by the professional development opportunity as an investment in our people that will pay off in the long run.”

Bottom Line

The controversy has sparked broader discussions about transparency and equity at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Frontline workers, who often face tighter budgets, expressed frustration over the perceived extravagance of executive travel.

The issue underscores the need for clear, equitable travel policies to maintain trust between staff and leadership.

As the airport reviews its policies, stakeholders await changes to ensure responsible use of revenues derived from public-facing operations like concessions and rentals.

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DENVER — The City of Denver has been trying to bring more people downtown. On Monday, it turned to live music.

Thousands packed a revamped 16th Street for a “block party” EDM concert at 16th and Welton, headlined by house DJ and producer FISHER.

Justin Wercinski told Denver7 he got to the front of the line 10 hours early for his favorite DJ. He grew up in North Denver and recently moved to Florida.

“I’ve lived here for 27 years, you know, Red Rocks in our back door,” he said. “Being able to go to Red Rocks all the time, but now bringing [an outdoor concert] to the actual city… I think it’s super special and pretty cool. I hope Denver keeps doing it.”

Eddie Burns, from Boulder, and Daniel Long, from Longmont, were also near the front of the line and shared the same feeling.

“A concert like here with big buildings, it’s super cool,” said Long. “We’re gonna just walk to a bar after. It’s like, super easy.”

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That’s good news for bars steps away from the stage, like 3 Margaritas on 16th Street.

“It’s very good for us, for our business, because we hope to have a lot of guests,” said manager Martinez Huitron. “We wait a long, a long, long time to having this here now.”

Consumed by construction for two years, Denverites got used to 16th Street being lifeless. The stretch formerly known as the 16th Street Mall is going through a rebrand.

“It’s kind of a mess, but you know, I mean, it desperately needed it,” Christoval Vega, who lives downtown, said of the rebrand.

Vega told Denver7 he’s happy to see the center of the city pulsing with activity again, and supports more block party-style concerts.

“I think it’s a great idea,” he said.

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The Downtown Denver Partnership said Monday’s event was sold out, with about 5,000 people expected to attend. Tickets cost roughly $110, including fees.

The same stretch is hosting a 16th Street Summer Kickoff Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, including the Speed Climbing World Cup, music, art, food vendors, and a beer garden.

The city hopes these events at the start of the season will bring more people and dollars back during key summer months.

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The Denver Broncos have one of the greatest track records in the National Football League when it comes to finding and developing talent as undrafted free agents.

In all but one season over the past 21 years, the Broncos have had an undrafted rookie make their final 53-man roster. The franchise signed fifteen college free agents at the end of the 2025 NFL Draft, but one of them certainly stands above the rest. That would be 6’7” Georgia offensive lineman Xavier Truss.

A four-star recruit, the highest in the history of Rhode Island, Truss’ path to Athens was an exercise in patience. Known for sending offensive line talent to the NFL every season, he had to wait his with the Bulldogs—a championship caliber collegiate program with incredible depth on the offensive line.

His first three years was as a backup, but in 2022 he finally got his chance to start and held his own for the National Champions with 14 games at left guard. In 2023, he started 13 games with 8 of them at right tackle, 4 at left guard, and 1 at right guard. As a sixth-year senior, he was the Bulldogs’ right tackle for 14 games.

According to reports, the Broncos’ initial plan is to have him start out at guard. The team’s starters are set in stone with Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz, but a backup spot will certainly be up for grabs. Let’s take a more in-depth look at Truss and what to reasonably expect for him during his rookie campaign.

Player Profile

Age: 23 | Experience: Rookie | College: Georgia | Height: 6’7” | Weight: 309 pounds

Arm Length: 33” | Hand Size: 10-1/2” | Bench Press: N/A | Broad Jump: 8’7”

Vertical Jump: 26 inches | 10-Yard Split: 1.82 seconds | 40-yard dash: 5.24 seconds

Xavier Truss’ 2025 outlook with the Broncos

One of the Broncos’ biggest strengths is their starting offensive line unit which ranked at the top of most metrics for their efforts in 2024. It’s safe to assume that their starting five from last season are set in stone. Though they will need to have some versatile backups to round out their roster.

Versatility is Truss’ calling card. With over 2,000 reps between three positions during his collegiate tenure with the Bulldogs, he has a lot of quality playing experience against top-tier competition. Prospects like him who offer multi-position flexibility often punch above their weight in battles to make a final roster over those who are relegated to one.

While his athletic scores at the NFL Combine weren’t great, his tape shows a player with adequate lateral agility and the ability to get to the second level. I also like his physicality and toughness on the field. He gives it his all ever snap and I liked how quick he was to initiate contact in his reps.

Unfortunately, his decision to forgo the bench press at the NFL Combine or Pro Day emphasizes concerns about his strength. It’s a fair and noticeable critique. Truss needs to improve in that regard though that’s not uncommon for linemen coming into the league.

Outside of his play on the field, his former college coach Kirby Smart raved about his character, toughness, and leadership. All of those are traits Head Coach Sean Payton seeks in his payers. He certainly seems to fit the mold and vision for the culture Payton’s seeking to establish here.

Final Thoughts

The Broncos haven’t spent significant draft capital in Payton’s tenure on the offensive line. However, they have put a major emphasis signing undrafted collegiate prospects to round out their roster. One could call it the Zach Strief path—a rising star in the coaching ranks who Payton signed as an undrafted free agent years ago with the New Orleans Saints.

According to Mike Klis, Truss received one of the highest bonuses and guarantee amounts of any player in their 15-man undrafted free agent class. That doesn’t make him a shoo-in for the final 53-man roster, but I believe it indicates they feel confident about his ability to develop into a starting-level player.

The Broncos had nine offensive linemen on their initial 53-man roster. For this upcoming training camp, Truss’ main competition will be Alex Palczewski and Frank Crum. Both were also undrafted players that wound up making the Broncos’ roster each of the last two seasons.

Who earns backup spots on the Broncos’ offensive line will be one of the best battles to watch. There’s no doubt Truss is certainly going to be in the mix. The concerns with his strength and being behind the aforementioned relative to the playbook are marks against him. If he doesn’t crack the final 53-man roster, he certainly merits continued development on the team’s practice squad.