June 12--With a small sample size of flight boardings to dissect following the implementation of regional jet service this month at Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, the concept seems to be catching on.
At an Airport Authority Commission meeting Tuesday at TRRA, Crystal Kimball of airport ground services firm GAT -- a support company contracted to work at TRRA -- told the board that Delta flights have been averaging 18 passengers since the company started service from Dickinson to Minneapolis on Monday.
Airport manager Matthew Remynse reported that United Airlines -- which began service to and from Denver on June 6 -- has averaged just fewer than 30 passengers per flight through 12 flights. Regional jets flying in and out of Dickinson have a maximum capacity of 50 passengers.
Kimball -- whose company contracts for both United and Delta -- said she expects boardings to increase as more people become aware of the regional jet service, especially Delta's flights to and from Minneapolis, a new destination for Dickinson's commercial flight customers.
"This is going to be a great thing for the city of Dickinson," said Airport Authority Commissioner Craig Steve. "I don't think there's any doubt about that."
Remynse said he believed it was too early to take much stock in flight boardings because of how new the service is.
In other news from the meeting, the commission voted to accept Remynse's recommendation to switch airport operations supervisor Jon Perout's post to a salaried position. The commission also discussed an open house and ribbon-cutting event to welcome United and Delta, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 21 in the airport's commercial terminal. Remynse said refreshments will be served.
Copyright 2013 - The Dickinson Press, N.D.
