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For those who live beneath the Rockies in Colorado Springs – or those looking to visit the Pikes Peak region – air travel comes with two main choices: fly in and out of Colorado Springs Airport, just a short drive southeast of downtown, or make the 90-minute journey north to Denver International Airport, the fourth busiest in the United States and the 10th busiest globally.
Alex Kovacs, Director of Aviation at Colorado Springs Airport, is realistic about the comparison. He knows the airport can’t compete with Denver International Airport in size or the number of nonstop destinations it serves, but it can offer a better overall experience for travelers.
“First of all, we’re here to serve,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “With that top of mind, it all comes down to providing value to the traveling public.
“You can come to Colorado Springs, a smaller airport but with excellent customer service and modern amenities, or you can go up the road to Denver, which provides more nonstop destinations but also more challenges that come with flying in and out of a very large and busy airport.”
To strengthen its position as a more convenient alternative, Colorado Springs Airport is undergoing a significant US$55 million terminal modernization project, ElevateCOS, in partnership with Nunn Construction.
The three-year project, scheduled to conclude June 2026, includes expanding hold room areas (or gate seating) that were designed for an era when planes didn’t hold more than 150 passengers.
“I want to introduce amenities that encourage travelers to arrive a little earlier.”
Accessibility has been central to the redesign, embedded throughout the terminal in recognition of the city’s role as home to both the Olympic and Paralympic committees, as well as a significant population of military veterans.
Looking ahead, Kovacs is focused on better serving the traveling community in line with their evolving expectations.
“From a retail and food-and-beverage perspective, we’re adding some local flair,” he explains.
A renewed partnership with SSP America is helping to elevate the airport’s food-and-beverage offering, marked by the arrival of a locally inspired menu courtesy of Colorado Craft.
Kovacs says construction on the new food court is set to begin in 2027, bringing in local chef and restaurateur Brother Luck with Street Eats, alongside well-known favorites like Einstein Bros. Bagels and Smashburger.
On the retail side, a partnership with Hudson has driven a broader refresh, introducing three new stores, including a newly opened Evolve Hudson Nonstop, powered by Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology.
The airport has also expanded its premium passenger offering, he explains, with Global Lounge Network opening ‘The Lounge Colorado Springs’ in 2025, welcoming Priority Pass and Global Lounge Network members.
“The biggest asset we have is the people that work here.”
In January, its first exhibition in a new rotating gallery, Art at COS, was unveiled, showcasing art from the Colorado Springs community. Kovacs insists that these upgrades aren’t just about making travelers choose to fly from Colorado Springs Airport, but it’s also about them spending more time here.
“I want to introduce amenities that encourage travelers to arrive a little earlier,” he says.
Of course, connectivity remains key. Among the recent upgrades is a new Customs and Border Protection facility and two international gates, along with the completion of a Federal Inspection Station in 2025, strengthening the airport’s ability to support future international operations.
“The Federal Inspection Station opens up real opportunity for global connectivity,” Kovacs says. “International service is so important for the community.”
Beyond scheduled services, Colorado Springs Airport also plays a significant operational role as United Airlines’ top diversion airport.
“At times, if you look out on our airfield, you can see well over 30 different airplanes, both domestic and international,” he says.
Kovacs knows from data that demand is out there for both domestic and international non-stop services – and the goal is to continue expanding the network, with Los Angeles (LAX) in its sights, as well as a potential return of a nonstop service to Washington, DC.
“Today, we don’t have a direct service to LAX, but there are roughly 450 people traveling back and forth every single day between Colorado Springs and Los Angeles,” he says, adding that more than 70 percent of that traffic is flying out of Denver.
“First of all, we’re here to serve.”
“We have to work on partnerships with commercial airlines to bring those non-stop flights.”
He acknowledges that fares can vary by route, but expects increased carrier competition across the network to help drive greater fare competitiveness over time.
Colorado Springs Airport spans a vast multi-use campus that extends well beyond the terminal, fixed-base operators and flight schools. The wider property also encompasses Peterson Space Force Base, a United States Space Force installation and the National Museum of World War II Aviation.
Also occupying that land is Peak Innovation Business Park. Home to Amazon and Frito-Lay, among other iconic corporations, it was recently announced that Swire Coca-Cola is set to open a new manufacturing facility – a US$475 million capital investment that is predicted to generate 170 new jobs.
“From a retail and food-and-beverage perspective, we’re adding some local flair.”
Kovacs explains that there’s a lot of potential for growth, especially now that the airport is partnering with Colorado Springs Utilities to increase the availability of power.
“Availability of power at the total airport campus, including the military and the business park, is paramount for our continued development,” he says.
Born and raised in Romania, Kovacs moved to the United States in 2003 and joined Colorado Springs Airport in 2024 after 16 years at the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.
Calling his role leading Colorado Springs Airport as the biggest honor of his professional career, he says, “The biggest asset we have is the people that work here. We don’t only serve the traveling community, but I personally serve every single person that works here.”
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