Small Minnesota Airport Trying to Woo New Carriers

Mar. 3 -- Viva Las Vegas!

Double up on Detroit.

Depart for Denver.

Destination Dallas, again.

This might be the year in which travelers from Rochester International Airport can fly south or west without first flying north or east.

Airport managers are actively trying to attract new airlines and routes to the field on Rochester's south side. The Rochester Airport Co., a Mayo Clinic subsidiary, has lodged one proposal with Denver-based Frontier Airlines, which is seeking new destinations for new planes.

Perhaps even a better prospect is Allegiant Air, which is headquartered in Las Vegas. The carrier's 70-passenger jets already are flying from Midwestern cities to Vegas, Orlando and Tampa Bay-St. Petersburg, Fla.

"We are set to go to visit with Allegiant Air," said Steve Leqve, manager of Rochester International Airport. "They want us to come in and talk with them." No date has been set, but the meeting likely will take place in March, Leqve said.

The airport's longtime link to the Twin Cities, Northwest Airlines, also is willing to discuss adding a second trip to Detroit. It could cut one hop for southeastern Minnesota travelers returning from Europe after about 8:45 a.m. "We need a collector (flight) in the afternoon," Leqve said.

And, although gone last year, American Airlines' route to Dallas-Fort Worth is not forgotten. "That is on our radar screen as well," Leqve said.

Northwest and American systems field a small swarm of flights into and out of Rochester each day. But except for the direct trip to Detroit, all flights connect to either Northwest's main hub at Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport or to American's at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Both are gateways to destinations worldwide. But flights to different destinations -- and at least twice-a-day frequency -- could bring more travelers to the departure gates at Rochester International.

"We have pretty good air service," Leqve said. "Would we like to see it expanded? Yes."

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