The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport could soon double its number of nonstop destinations, with plans to offer direct flights to Denver and Salt Lake City.
The airport was awarded an $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development Program to incentivize airlines to fly to more destinations from Flagstaff.
Currently, Phoenix and Dallas are the only destinations with nonstop service from Pulliam Airport.
Airport communications director Claire Harper says the grant provides financial incentives, including guaranteed revenue for the airlines.
“[It’s] waiving landing fees, as well as office lease space for two years, and marketing funds to publicize the route to ensure that it’s successful in both destinations,” Harper said.
Harper says both Sky West, who would operate under Delta, and United have shown interest in the routes, but no official announcement has been made. Both airlines wrote letters of support for the grant application.
“Getting a letter of support from an airline is a big accomplishment and one of the requirements to be selected,” Harper said.
In addition to the two airlines, the airport received letters of support from two other airports and more than 20 community partners, Flagstaff officials said in a release.
Community contributions for the grant application reached $548,500, bringing the total project budget to $1,348,500, the city said in a release.
Harper said there is not a timeline for when service to both cities will begin.
“Recruiting a new airline is a marathon, not a sprint,” Harper said
She hopes the service will begin before next summer.
“We don’t have anything to announce quite yet, but we’re certainly continuing our conversations,” Harper said. “Airlines plan about six to nine months out, leaning more towards the nine-month part.”
Harper said the Flagstaff City Council must still vote to approve the grant, but the vote has not yet been scheduled.
