The Denver City Council rejected a contract with Colorado-based airline Key Lime Air on Monday over the company’s work helping carry out President Donald Trump’s mass-deportation efforts. The company will still be able to fly in and out of Centennial Airport, however, where its charter operations won’t be affected by the vote. The rejected contract would have allowed Key Lime Air, which has operated in Colorado since at least 2006, to use storage facilities at Denver International Airport, said airport spokesman George Karayiannakis. Key Lime flies only out of Centennial, but the company owns another airline called Denver Air Connection that operates out of DIA. Eleven of the council’s 13 members voted against the contract. “It may seem like any other business decision … but it’s just not. We know that people are being deported without due process,” Councilwoman Jamie Torres said in explaining her “no” vote. Colorado Newsline first reported that the company was transporting detainees for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in October. Since then, the company has been the focus of protests at the airport and at the University of Colorado Boulder, which has a contract with the airline to fly its sports teams to away games. Key Lime Air operated 83 flights for ICE in September, Colorado Newsline reported. More than 115 deportation flights have departed from Denver this year, according to Colorado Public Radio. Trump initiated a nationwide immigration crackdown when he entered office for his second term earlier this year. Those efforts have included…
Want more insights? Join Grow With Caliber - our career elevating newsletter and get our take on the future of work delivered weekly.
