Officials Say 10,000 New Seats Come With Biweekly Winter Flight Service
MONTROSE – Residents and travelers will have more access in and out of Montrose to the West Coast, thanks to the new service at Montrose Regional Airport announced by Telluride/Montrose Regional Airport Organization and Allegiant Air Tuesday.
"I think this is going to be a game changer for us," said Dirk de Pagter, chairman of TMRAO.
Allegiant will provide biweekly flights from Montrose to both Oakland International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Airport, starting Dec. 15.
TMRAO has been pursing a low-cost carrier for Montrose for over a year, and after securing funding from the City of Montrose, the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, and the Telluride Ski Resort, that has now happened, said TMRAO Director Scott Stewart.
The new flights, bringing an impressive 10,000 additional seats to TMRAO’s winter air service – should boost local tourism and the area's economy, according to officials.
"When we talk about economic development...this develops energy that moves beyond the four walls of this airport," said Montrose County Commissioner Gary Ellis. "This is huge for transportation,” he said, and “key to economic development."
Montrose Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Sandy Head agreed, saying the new service is important and an advantage to the more than 20 global businesses operating out of the Montrose area.
"Montrose and Telluride have been connected for many years," Head said. "It's important to maintain these partnerships. I'm glad the City [of Montrose] came forward, too, because it's important to share in these investments."
The City of Montrose recently directed its staff to find $270,000 in the 2013 budget for TMRAO – an impressive $100,000 more than it contributed to the organization in 2012; Telluride businesses and government organizations stepped up their contributions, as well.
TMRAO additionally pursued funding from Gunnison and Crested Butte, whose town officials are expected to announce final figures in the coming weeks, Stewart said.
The funding requests were part of a long-term plan by TMRAO to secure air service – and the air organization’s own financial stability. Stewart said TMRAO hopes to be able to be self-sustaining, so as to lessen financial support required from heretofore supporting entities, in the future.
Currently, the Montrose Regional Airport provides service through Delta, American and United airlines to Newark, N.J., Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Denver. Prior to the Allegiant contract, its only West Coast service was to Los Angeles.
"A majority of our service is to the East Coast, so we are going into two markets currently not being served," said Montrose Regional Airport Director of Aviation Lloyd Arnold. "It's nice to have volume, but you need to service different locations to boost the economy.
“Access is key,” he added.
Jenni Sopsic, director of Montrose Association of Commerce and Tourism, said the new air service will enhance what the area already offers. She said she gets a lot of inquiries from the West Coast, and the organization's dot-density map of visitors shows concentrated areas of enquiry from these new cities.
Sopsic said she is excited that these potential visitors can now have better access to Montrose.
And people using the new service will get a discounted price as part of the new venture.
This winter, Allegiant is offering an introductory one-way fare from Oakland starting at $113, and from Phoenix starting at $83. The Oakland and Phoenix flights, which arrive and depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays, start Dec. 15 and concluded April 3, but tickets must be purchased by Oct. 2 to take advantage of the special fares, according to Allegiant.
Kati O'Hare at kohare@watchnewspapers.com or Tweet @katiohare
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