Billboards in downtown Denver have become the latest battleground for two airlines locked in a competitive, sometimes hilarious, struggle for the city’s travelers.
In response, Southwest Airlines placed its own billboard directly above United’s. According to images and descriptions circulating on social media, the Southwest billboard reads “Can’t hear you from up here.” A second line below adds “Flying southwest doesn’t make you Southwest.” Another version says, “These trophies sit united on our shelf,” (with “#1 in Economy Class Customer Satisfaction 4 years in a row” underneath). The positioning of the two ads, with Southwest literally towering over United’s message, quickly drew attention online and on aviation forums.
Denver has long been an increasingly contested market for both carriers. United maintains one of its largest hubs at Denver International Airport, which it calls its most profitable, while Southwest has expanded aggressively in recent years and remains one of the airport’s largest operators by daily departures. The competition has been visible in both scheduling decisions and fare levels on overlapping routes. The billboards underscore a rivalry that has already been playing out through network growth and pricing rather than traditional advertising alone.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
