CHEYENNE – American Airlines, marketed locally as American Eagle, will offer a second daily flight between Cheyenne Regional Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport this summer.
The nonstop route, operated by SkyWest Airlines, will run from May 4 through Sept. 3 in addition to the daily service that began Nov. 4.
The flight from Dallas will depart at 10:30 p.m. and arrive in Cheyenne at 11:55 p.m. The flight from Cheyenne will depart at 5:45 a.m. and arrive in Dallas at 9:07 a.m.
“We’ll have an extra 50 different locations we can connect to,” Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr said. “It really opens up that West Coast and East Coast market for business and leisure travel.”
The summer route will seat 40-50 passengers on a Bombardier CRJ 200 regional jet. The lowest prices are $209-$289 round trip, according to the airline’s website.
The Cheyenne Regional Air Focus Team secured the new service at no additional cost, according to CRAFT President Wendy Volk. It will be added to the group’s existing one-year contract with SkyWest, which guarantees a minimum revenue of $2.3 million raised though local, state, federal and private funds.
“This is an opportunity to confirm what our market potential is so we can continue to recruit additional destinations and opportunities,” she said. “Other airports have told us we need to get to two flights a day for sustainability.”
Cheyenne’s existing air service has seen early success.
Data from SkyWest and the Wyoming Aeronautics Commission reveals that 4,800 passengers have flown from Cheyenne since November. This is more than double the number of flyers Great Lakes Airlines served in its entire last year of operation.
“We’re trending stronger than we expected to be,” Volk said. “Winter months after the holiday season are usually the low months, but January trended up, and future bookings are looking positive.”
Cheyenne Regional Airport Director Tim Barth said he’ll have a first-quarter breakdown of SkyWest’s financial performance soon, including how much money was spent from the minimum revenue guarantee so far.
But based on ticket sales, Dallas is the final destination for most Cheyenne travelers, according to Laramie County Commissioner Amber Ash.
“Today, 57 percent of our traffic has been generated in Laramie County alone, which is indicative, from a business and leisure standpoint, that this flight is proving very successful for our community at both levels,” she said.
More flights, especially in the summer, could be an economic boon for Laramie County, according to Volk. It will also give travelers more flexibility when faced with late connections or canceled flights.
“The one flight out of Dallas a day means if I miss my flight for some unexpected reason, I’m stuck there for another 24 hours,” Cheyenne resident Daniel Jones said. “This can be frustrating for people.”
Officials hope the new service will ease some of these concerns during the busy travel season.
“We are grateful for the support we have received from the community so far,” said Greg Atkin, SkyWest Airlines managing director of market development. “This enhanced schedule will provide even more opportunities for Cheyenne’s business and leisure travelers.”