�Թ���

CU Boulder is partnering with Denver International Airport (DEN) to launch the Denver International Airport Travel Index, a new quarterly survey focused on how travelers across the region expect to fly in the months ahead.

Developed by the Business Research Division (BRD) at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business in collaboration with the airport,�� tracks expectations for business, leisure and personal travel. The results will offer an early signal of near-term travel demand and help inform airport planning, air service decisions and route development.

“This ongoing research with DEN will shed light on near-term travel expectations and offer a window into the general health of regional businesses and the economy,” said Brian Lewandowski, BRD executive director. “By tracking data over time, we can analyze how external economic factors are impacting travel expectations across the region.”����

The travel index will be administered quarterly, allowing researchers to track shifts in traveler sentiment over time. Beyond travel intent, the data will also reflect broader economic and behavioral factors shaping travel decisions including tourism and business activity in the Denver metro area, as well as how economic conditions influence when and why people travel.

“DEN’s passengers are our greatest source of insight into the future of air travel,” said Phil Washington, CEO of Denver International Airport. “Their continuous feedback, paired with CU Boulder’s expertise in the development and administration of comprehensive surveys, will equip us with timely, in-depth intelligence to help the airport continue to expand its global connectivity.”

Turning research into real-world insight

CU Boulder’s Business Research Division brings decades of experience conducting applied economic research and tracking economic trends across Colorado. The division is known statewide for its ongoing economic indicators, business confidence surveys and annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook, which provide data-driven insight used by business leaders, policymakers and public agencies.��

Through this partnership, BRD researchers will oversee survey design, data collection and analysis, ensuring the travel index reflects regional travel sentiment in a consistent, methodologically sound way. The approach mirrors the division’s broader work of tracking expectations over time to better understand how economic conditions translate into real-world behavior.��

The findings will supplement the airport’s existing research and support longer-term planning—helping the airport anticipate demand while offering insight into how broader economic conditions may shape travel, tourism and business activity across the region.