Sept. 17--OGDEN -- Pack your bags -- the first commercial flight out of Ogden will take off this week.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to arrive at Ogden-Hinckley Airport from Mesa, Ariz., about 8:40 a.m. Thursday. The first flight out of Ogden is scheduled to leave for Mesa at 12:40 p.m.
The service between Ogden and Mesa will be provided by Allegiant Air, a subsidiary of the Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Company, and will operate two times a week, on Sunday and Thursday.
In preparation for this week's first flights, airport manager Royal Eccles said fire crews spent last week training with new safety equipment especially designed for the flights. Also, Transportation Security Administration officials have been in Ogden, setting up new security measures.
"This really is an exciting time for the airport and for the city as a whole," Eccles said. "This will change the way people think about Ogden."
Peter Makowski, project coordinator with Ogden City Business Development, said the first flight is booked to capacity.
"We've generated a lot of interest so far," Makowski said. "Hopefully, we can keep building momentum."
The inaugural flight will feature a ribbon-cutting ceremony beginning at 9 a.m., hosted by Eccles and including speeches from Mayor Mike Caldwell and Ogden City Council members, Weber County Commissioner Kerry Gibson, TSA officials and the Ogden/Weber Chamber of Commerce.
The event is open to the public, with a complimentary continental breakfast provided by the Auger Inn.
Allegiant will give the first 100 people who attend the event a coupon for $21.60 to use on a future vacation package.
Eccles said the airport expects to attract travelers from a market area of more than 700,000 people.
The planes flying out of Ogden will be MD-83s, which have a maximum passenger capacity of 166.
Allegiant's top destinations currently include Honolulu; San Diego; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Palm Springs, Calif.; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; several Florida locations; and Bellingham, Wash., which is near Seattle.
Airport and city officials said all of those destinations could eventually be reached from Ogden.
The new service to Mesa will feature fares starting at $69.99 for a one-way ticket.
To book a flight, go to www. allegiantair.com.
Copyright 2012 - Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah
