DIA concession pricing policy gives businesses wide latitude to mark up prices, 9NEWS investigation finds

February 9, 2026 - 06:42

A Denver International Airport policy designed to keep food and beverage prices reasonable for travelers is instead allowing businesses to charge significantly more than street prices, a new investigation has found. The policy, which requires vendors to charge prices that are "comparable" to their off-airport locations, provides broad leeway for markups.

The review examined prices for common items like bottled water, beer, and snacks across multiple concourses. Findings showed substantial disparities, with some items costing double or more their typical local retail price. While the airport asserts its compliance checks ensure fairness, the investigation documented clear inconsistencies in pricing from one concession to another.

Airport officials state the policy relies on an "honor system" from vendors to self-report their street pricing. This system, however, appears to create loopholes that businesses can exploit. The result is that travelers, a captive audience, often face steep premiums on everyday items. The findings have raised questions about the effectiveness of the current enforcement model and whether stronger measures are needed to truly protect consumers from excessive airport pricing.