Southwest Airlines Inc.

Daniel Drinan, busted for pleasuring himself on plane, a disgraced ex-priest

Former Catholic priest Daniel Drinan made headlines after being charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Denver for masturbating in view of other passengers on a plane -- and they weren't his first. Even before this latest incident, Drinan, 63, had an entry on BishopAccountability.org, which descri ... More >>

See art bags and high-flying design tomorrow at the Denver Art Museum's Untitled

The Denver Art Museum's monthly Untitled series is a study in opposites: Half of its format is instantly recognizable, and the other half -- well, you never know what to expect. That is in no way a drawback, mind you: You start with a blueprint, then veer off on unpredictable pathways that shift wit ... More >>

Reader: Chalk up a short life span as one of the charms of chalk art

On Tuesday, artist Kyle Banister and a crew of Southwest Airlines employees and students from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design spent four hours creating a masterpiece. And just a few minutes later, it was gone. That very short life span is one of the challenges, as well as one of the ch ... More >>

A cyclops Zamboni teaches a lesson about the ephemeral nature of chalk art

At a preview yesterday for the upcoming Denver Chalk Art Festival, artist Kyle Banister got a reminder of what it means to be a chalk artist. At ten years, the festival may be long-lived -- but the art it celebrates is ephemeral. Banister's piece, which he worked on with Southwest Airlines employees ... More >>

Downtown Denver Partnership vows to bring a public market downtown

​Denver has a lively downtown -- sometimes too lively, if you're on the 16th Street Mall at prime begging time -- and it promises to get even better if the Downtown Denver Partnership makes good on its vow to bring a public market to the center of town.

Denver Chalk Art Festival: Photo gallery captures one of the city's great events

Big pics below.​Now in its ninth year, the Denver Chalk Art Festival on Larimer Square has evolved into the sort of gathering that captures all that's great about the city and the people who live here. And this year, the weather cooperated to make it even better. Relive highlights via the foll ... More >>

Southwest Porch at Skyline Park reopens tonight

Mikhaila Costa​The weather may still be slightly schizophrenic, but most of the restaurants along the 16th Street Mall have started hosting diners and drinkers on their patios. And tonight, the Southwest Porch at Skyline Park, which debuted last September at the base of the D & F Clock Tower, ... More >>

Theodore Madrid allegedly drunk and high when he killed 2-year-old Caden Rodgers (47)

Big pic below.​Update: Given the information contained in the arrest affidavit for Theodore Madrid, it's no surprise that he's now been charged with first-degree murder in the death of two-year-old Caden Rodgers. According to the document, Madrid was well over the legal limit for drunkenness b ... More >>

Southwest holds plane for family of Caden Rodgers, tot allegedly slain by Theodore Madrid

​Tragedy can bring out compassion in people -- and companies, too. As evidence, note that Southwest Airlines held a plane for the grandfather of two-year-old Caden Rodgers, allegedly killed by Theodore Madrid last week.

Strange but True: The year's weirdest news stories

Southwest Airline skating rink security enhancements: Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario

Full comic below.​The enhanced security screenings at DIA provide an excellent opportunity for Coloradans to get used to more aggressive pat-downs. Should state Republicans get their wish, searches to prove citizenship would start tomorrow. As citizens withdraw more into their cyber-selves, th ... More >>

Quick! They're Gaining on You!

Frontier scrambles to spin Southwest's AirTran acquisition in airline survival of the fittest

​I contacted Frontier spokeswoman Lindsey Purves at 6:17 a.m. yesterday for a comment about Southwest Airlines' acquisition of AirTran and what it might mean for what's still portrayed as Denver's hometown airline. But the statement Purves came up with nearly nine hours later doesn't even ment ... More >>

Southwest Porch at Skyline Park, featuring Brava! Pizzeria and alcoholic beverages, opens today

​Apparently, even the airlines want in on the exploding street food scene. A few weeks ago, we reported that Dave Bravdica of Brava! Pizzeria had wrangled a deal with Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret that allowed him to offer alcohol, since the cabaret's liquor license covered the patio at the bas ... More >>

Frontier is still Denver's hometown airline despite executives' move to Indianapolis, spokesman insists

"Indianapolis doesn't look all that nature-friendly..."​The headline in this morning's Denver Post is unequivocal: "Republic Airways to Move Frontier's Headquarters Out of Denver." But Peter Kowalchuk, Frontier's spokesman, believes the announced resignation of former Frontier CEO Sean Menke, ... More >>

Southwest lets Frontier know it's not flying away

​When Southwest Airlines made its run at purchasing Frontier Airlines this past month, a number of industry observers speculated that it was doing so because Frontier was kicking its ass in Denver. But just because Southwest eventually lost out to underdog Republic Airways Holdings in the Fron ... More >>

Denver Magazine's latest cover inspires some disturbing images

Why Denver beats Indianapolis in Frontier sweepstakes

​Republic Airways chief executive Bryan Bedford is in town again today, meeting with employees of Frontier Airlines, which Republic purchased after unexpectedly besting Southwest Airlines at auction. He's also been chatting with city officials who are understandably desperate to convince Repub ... More >>

Southwest still shopping after losing Frontier

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly.​All signs pointed to Southwest Airlines purchasing Frontier -- but despite Southwest CEO Gary Kelly's optimistic projections in the days before an auction for the Denver-based carrier, a breakdown in labor talks with Frontier pilots presaged an unlikely victory by Rep ... More >>

Three possible futures for Denver International Airport

​Republic Airways Holdings' victory over Dallas-based Southwest Airlines in the Frontier sweepstakes raises more questions than it answers, as Dallas Morning News airline blogger Eric Torbenson makes clear in "What Will Denver Look Like in Two Years?," an analysis published earlier today. In T ... More >>

Did Frontier pilots engineer Republic Holdings' auction victory?

Good news, Griswald.​On Wednesday, we pointed out that in contrast to the actions of Southwest Airlines, which energetically hyped its bid for Frontier Airlines, Republic Airways Holdings, the first suitor to step forward, was laying low. Turns out Republic held a trump card: contract negotiat ... More >>

Southwest post-game remarks about losing Frontier

​Moments ago, Southwest Airlines released a statement about what everyone else had already figured out -- that Southwest's massive bid for Frontier Airlines had fallen apart at the last minute over an inability to get Frontier pilots to concede on seniority-oriented contract issues. In the do ... More >>

Potential bumpy ride for Southwest's Frontier bid

​Today's supposed to be the day when an auction for Frontier Airlines gets underway, with most observers expecting that Southwest Airlines would walk away with the Denver-based carrier. Moments ago, however, Reuters reported that negotiations between Southwest and Frontier pilots, which were s ... More >>

Republic Airways Holdings lays low in Frontier sweepstakes

An image from the Republic Airways Holdings website.​Tomorrow's the day when Frontier Airlines hits the auction block, and in recent days, Southwest Airlines, one of two publicly announced suitors, has gotten the vast majority of attention due to the size of its bid: $170 million, nearly $60 m ... More >>

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly on the bid for Frontier

Gary Kelly.​With yesterday's promise of a $170 million bid for Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines made it clear it really, really wants the Denver-based carrier. After all, the total was nearly $60 million more than its previously announced offer of $113 million, which was already higher th ... More >>

With $170 million bid, Southwest Airlines proves it really, really wants Frontier

​An increasing number of aviation-industry experts believe that Southwest Airlines' interest in obtaining Denver-based Frontier is motivated by the desire to eliminate a competitor that's kicking its ass, at least here. And that theory has just gotten a boost via the size of Southwest's bid fo ... More >>

Southwest Airlines waves white flag with Frontier bid

​A growing number of airline-industry observers have stepped up to suggest that Southwest Airlines' attempt to purchase Frontier -- which, if successful, would spell the end for the Denver carrier, as employees conceded at a protest rally yesterday -- indicates that the former knows it can't d ... More >>

Frontier Airlines animals: endangered species?

​At noon today, supporters of Frontier Airlines, the subject of a potential bidding war between Republic Airways Holdings (which would probably preserve the company in some fashion) and Southwest Airlines (likely to swallow it whole), are rallying at Mayor John Hickenlooper's office. The name ... More >>

Wanna get away, Denver? Southwest makes bid to buy Frontier Airlines

​ Several outlets are reporting that Southwest Airlines is trying to outbid Republic Airways and swoop up Denver's bankrupt hometown airline, Frontier. From the Associated Press: A court had already approved the sale of Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc. to the parent of Republic Airways for $ ... More >>

Today's Featured Event: Record-break at Film on the Rocks' World's Largest Music Lesson

Paramount Pictures/Lucasfilm Join Henry and Indy Jones at Film on the Rocks.​Film on the Rocks is, hands down, my favorite summer film series in the area. First, there's the gorgeous view of the city from Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway in Morrison. Then there's all the a ... More >>

Well, that's one way to make sure folks are paying attention

Why someone didn't think of this sooner is anyone's guess. And if Southwest Airlines hasn't given this guy a raise yet, for chrissakes, what are y'all waiting for? Seriously. We're switching our next flight to Southwest in hopes of coming across David Holmes, the world's foremost (and perhaps o ... More >>

A New Look for Spring

Strange but True Stories From 2007

The truth is out there, and in 2007, it was often weird, wicked or just plain wild.

Leave Britney Alone, September 12

Off Limits

Off Limits

Off Limits

Flights of Fancy

Denver pays a consultant big money to get overseas flights for DIA--and goes nowhere.

BUFFALO BILLS

ANOTHER FRIEND OF THE MAYOR'S JOINS THE PATRONAGE HERD AT DIA.

SOUTHWESTERN FLYER

THE CITY CLEARS THE TARMAC FOR A TEXAS-SIZED TAXPAYER SUBSIDY AT DIA.

I'M ED! FLY ME!

COLORADO SPRINGS BOOSTERS GO UP, UP AND AWAY WITH ED BEAUVAIS.HIGH FLYER HOW MUCH OF A FLIGHT RISK IS WESTERN PACIFIC'S ED BEAUVAIS? JUST ASK THE INVESTORS IN HIS LAST AIRLINE.

FLIGHT RISK

GUESS WHICH LITTLE AIRLINE IS BACK SNIFFING AT THE PUBLIC TROUGH.

Small Craft Warnings

Regional airports had high hopes when DIA said it wasn't interested in private avaiation. But guess what? DIA changed its mind. Again. Gorilla tactics as dia makes a grab for private planes, regional airports bail out of their expansion plans.