United Airlines to connect Grand Forks to Denver

May 24--United Airlines will add service between Grand Forks and Denver, according to an announcement by the office of North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple on Wednesday.

"We're absolutely thrilled that our hard work and the work of so many people, especially the flying passengers, that it looks like it's coming to fruition," said City Council President Hal Gershman, who is the chairman of the Airport Authority's Air Service and Marketing Committee.

The airline will provide details on the frequency of the flights, schedules and the launch date for the added service soon, according to the governor's statement.

Grand Forks International Airport offers daily flights between Grand Forks and Minneapolis on Delta and less frequent flights on Allegiant Air to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla.

Long-time goal

Attracting another carrier that could offer a regular connection to a western hub has been a goal of local leaders for years.

"Denver's been our primary goal," said Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown, who was traveling from Bismarck on Wednesday afternoon, where he was promoting the city as a destination for energy-related businesses looking for expansion.

"Denver opens a lot of opportunities and a lot of markets," he said. "As we expand west, this also facilitates that."

Patrick Dame, Grand Forks International Airport executive director, called the announcement a result of the collaboration among different groups, including the city, the Airport Authority and the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., who "have put a lot of work into trying to put in a westbound connection for a number of years."

Brown spread the credit for the announcement among groups in Grand Forks and in state government.

"It speaks well to our collaborative efforts, and we're thankful for governor's efforts," he said.

New growth

The new service comes as the airport has invested in its terminal and seen its passenger numbers grow. The airport had 11,552 boardings in April, up 27 percent from April 2011, according to its website.

"We have a wonderful new building and wonderful new interest from the public," Dame said.

The growing passenger numbers are an incentive for carriers seeking new business, Dame said. While growth has been stagnant elsewhere, the number of passengers flying in and out of North Dakota has been growing.

"Airlines want to fly where they can make money, where there are passengers," Dame said.

Gershman said the new connection will be a boost for the area's businesses and economy, and fits with the city's Bakken Initiative to capture economic growth related to the energy industry.

"All of this plays in perfectly," he said.

Reach Bjorke at (701) 780-1117; (800) 477-6572, ext. 117; or send e-mail to [email protected].

Copyright 2012 - Grand Forks Herald, N.D.