Southwest to add 1,000+ jobs at DIA

This story was updated at 4:39 p.m.

DENVER — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) expanding its existing Colorado operations and add as many as 1,013 new jobs at Denver International Airport.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved a $12.5 million tax incentive package Thursday for the airline, known as “Project Garfield” in the commission’s documents.

Southwest spokesman Dan Landson confirmed the company received the incentive package.

The firm’s proposed project is estimated to result in $75 million in capital expenditure at DIA, according to OEDIT documents.

The average annual wage of the new positions would be $128,115.

Project Garfield “supports the state’s economic goals for several reasons. First, the project represents a potential major expansion occurring at Denver International Airport, highlighting DEN’s status as a leading international airport,” OEDIT documents say. “Second, the project supports the state’s strong aviation and aerospace industries, and will provide a range of ancillary and spillover benefits not captured solely within the scope of the project, including providing more choice and convenience to business and leisure travel in our state. Lastly, the project highlights Colorado as an ideal location in which companies can base teams that will impact their operations around North America.”

In addition to Project Garfield, the commissioner’s agenda included the consideration of smaller tax incentives for Project Flywheel, an outdoor industry firm that could add 92 jobs to its existing Colorado operations, and Project Gemini, a Japanese pharmaceutical company that could add as many as 175 jobs in the Denver metro area. 

on Facebook on LinkedIn