Redmond jet service slated to start March 1
Two daily direct jet departures on Delta Air Lines from Redmond to its Salt Lake City hub will begin March 1.
Central Oregon businesses and community leaders rallied this fall to bring the carrier here to provide flights east to save travelers time and money.
Travelers can now book flights at introductory fares on Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines jet service to the Salt Lake City hub, which has more than 375 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to 80 destinations.
Economic Development for Central Oregon, Redmond Airport and other community leaders raised nearly $650,000 in pledges from 122 companies in Central Oregon to show Delta they would spend at least that much on airline tickets during its first 12 months of service.
Gary St. John, a marketing representative for Delta Connection, announced details of the service Tuesday at a Redmond Airport conference room where community and business leaders hailed it as a milestone for Central Oregon.
Carrie Novick, Redmond Airport manager, said Roger Lee, executive director of EDCO, made pitches to United Air Lines and Delta for service east.
"(Carriers) are constantly besieged by communities but they weren't as good or as profitable as ours," Novick said.
EDCO had hoped to secure service by about May. But Delta moved the start date to March 1 because it has jets available as it moves some of its service out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, "a tough market," said St. John.
Daily departures will be at 6:45 a.m. There will be a second departure at 1:25 p.m. The flight time is about 75 minutes.
Flights from Salt Lake City will depart at 11:20 a.m. A second flight will depart Salt Lake City at 8:35 p.m.
The CRJ-200 Bombardier jet cruises at an altitude of 41,000 feet and 528 mph, faster than the turbo prop planes that now only fly west from Redmond. The jets have 50 seats in two rows of two seats, with no center seat, which adds to the comfort, St. John said.
Novick said other carriers at Redmond Airport are expected to match their fares to compete with Delta and will likely sell more tickets. United Express, also operated by SkyWest Airlines, and Horizon Air now offer daily direct flights to Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.
When Eugene added similar jet service, sales increased for all of the carriers there, she added.
Delta's service will tap travelers who drive from Central Oregon to Portland to board flights. About 40 percent of air travelers from Central Oregon who take flights from Portland drive to Portland, Novick said.
"We hope to recapture that market. With the cost of gas and parking, if you can bring fares down to within $20 (of driving), people will fly rather than drive," she said.
Teri Clark, travel coordinator for Edge Wireless in Bend, said the new service will save the company time and money. The company has its own jet but also spent $20,000 in the last six months on commercial travel, she said.
"This will help tremendously," Clark said. "It has been painful getting people to the East Coast."
The quick and enthusiastic response from Central Oregon businesses for the service was unprecedented, according to Mike Boggs, manager-airport business services for Mead and Hunt, a consulting firm in Eugene that has helped communities across the country create airline travel banks.
So far, the biggest pledge to the travel bank was from Wells Fargo Bank, which deposited $75,000 in the account. Accent Optical, a high-tech firm in Bend pledged $50,000. Other major pledges came from Eagle Crest Resort, Mount Bachelor and Sunriver Resort, according to EDCO.
Lee said businesses that have deposited money in the travel bank can begin using the funds to buy tickets on Jan. 14.
The proposal to Delta from EDCO and Redmond Airport also includes a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and $450,000 in marketing funds from the Central Oregon Visitors Association, Central Oregon resorts and the Salt Lake City International Airport, according to EDCO.
Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith sent statements to airport officials Monday hailing the new service as key to attracting business and tourism.
EDCO held meetings throughout Central Oregon in November to urge businesses to participate in the travel bank.
Kim Falco, station manager for SkyWest Airlines at Redmond Airport, said flights can be booked online at www.skywest.com. Delta also listed Redmond as a travel option on its Web site, www.delta.com, on Tuesday.
The carrier is also interviewing candidates for six ticket/ramp agent positions starting at $9 per hour, she said. Applicants should apply online at www.skywest.com.
(Source: Cathy Carroll The Bulletin)
Central Oregon businesses and community leaders rallied this fall to bring the carrier here to provide flights east to save travelers time and money.
Travelers can now book flights at introductory fares on Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines jet service to the Salt Lake City hub, which has more than 375 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to 80 destinations.
Economic Development for Central Oregon, Redmond Airport and other community leaders raised nearly $650,000 in pledges from 122 companies in Central Oregon to show Delta they would spend at least that much on airline tickets during its first 12 months of service.
Gary St. John, a marketing representative for Delta Connection, announced details of the service Tuesday at a Redmond Airport conference room where community and business leaders hailed it as a milestone for Central Oregon.
Carrie Novick, Redmond Airport manager, said Roger Lee, executive director of EDCO, made pitches to United Air Lines and Delta for service east.
"(Carriers) are constantly besieged by communities but they weren't as good or as profitable as ours," Novick said.
EDCO had hoped to secure service by about May. But Delta moved the start date to March 1 because it has jets available as it moves some of its service out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, "a tough market," said St. John.
Daily departures will be at 6:45 a.m. There will be a second departure at 1:25 p.m. The flight time is about 75 minutes.
Flights from Salt Lake City will depart at 11:20 a.m. A second flight will depart Salt Lake City at 8:35 p.m.
The CRJ-200 Bombardier jet cruises at an altitude of 41,000 feet and 528 mph, faster than the turbo prop planes that now only fly west from Redmond. The jets have 50 seats in two rows of two seats, with no center seat, which adds to the comfort, St. John said.
Novick said other carriers at Redmond Airport are expected to match their fares to compete with Delta and will likely sell more tickets. United Express, also operated by SkyWest Airlines, and Horizon Air now offer daily direct flights to Seattle, Portland and San Francisco.
When Eugene added similar jet service, sales increased for all of the carriers there, she added.
Delta's service will tap travelers who drive from Central Oregon to Portland to board flights. About 40 percent of air travelers from Central Oregon who take flights from Portland drive to Portland, Novick said.
"We hope to recapture that market. With the cost of gas and parking, if you can bring fares down to within $20 (of driving), people will fly rather than drive," she said.
Teri Clark, travel coordinator for Edge Wireless in Bend, said the new service will save the company time and money. The company has its own jet but also spent $20,000 in the last six months on commercial travel, she said.
"This will help tremendously," Clark said. "It has been painful getting people to the East Coast."
The quick and enthusiastic response from Central Oregon businesses for the service was unprecedented, according to Mike Boggs, manager-airport business services for Mead and Hunt, a consulting firm in Eugene that has helped communities across the country create airline travel banks.
So far, the biggest pledge to the travel bank was from Wells Fargo Bank, which deposited $75,000 in the account. Accent Optical, a high-tech firm in Bend pledged $50,000. Other major pledges came from Eagle Crest Resort, Mount Bachelor and Sunriver Resort, according to EDCO.
Lee said businesses that have deposited money in the travel bank can begin using the funds to buy tickets on Jan. 14.
The proposal to Delta from EDCO and Redmond Airport also includes a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and $450,000 in marketing funds from the Central Oregon Visitors Association, Central Oregon resorts and the Salt Lake City International Airport, according to EDCO.
Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith sent statements to airport officials Monday hailing the new service as key to attracting business and tourism.
EDCO held meetings throughout Central Oregon in November to urge businesses to participate in the travel bank.
Kim Falco, station manager for SkyWest Airlines at Redmond Airport, said flights can be booked online at www.skywest.com. Delta also listed Redmond as a travel option on its Web site, www.delta.com, on Tuesday.
The carrier is also interviewing candidates for six ticket/ramp agent positions starting at $9 per hour, she said. Applicants should apply online at www.skywest.com.
(Source: Cathy Carroll The Bulletin)
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home