Denver International Airport officials said it is too early to put a price tag on the weekend event marking DIA’s 15th anniversary, which included a scale replica of a Boeing 787 wing used as a table for cupcakes.
Two airport workers said they were told to list their overtime hours for the event as “snow removal.”
The six-hour-long event, in three segments over Sunday and Monday, was paid for using fees from airport customers.
The figurative and literal centerpiece was a scale model of a Boeing 787 wing. DIA hopes the aircraft, currently in testing, will be the vehicle for a direct flight to Asia.
The model was constructed by airport maintenance staff.
Two airport employees who worked on the project discussed its details with 9News on the condition of anonymity, fearing they would lose their jobs for criticizing the project.
Both said they were instructed by managers to submit their overtime claims for the construction and setup of the wing as “snow removal.”
During the event, airport employees, including Manager of Aviation Kim Day, handed out 15,000 cupcakes to customers and fellow employees.
“It’s really a thank you for everyone who works here and everyone who uses our airport,” Day said.
