POCATELLO — Pocatello Regional Airport will add a third daily flight to Salt Lake International Airport on a trial basis from Aug. 17 through Sept. 27.
Airport officials hope the increased flight connectivity will boost demand during the trial period so that SkyWest Airlines will keep the third flight in Pocatello on a permanent basis.
The daily flight will depart Pocatello at noon. The midday timing of the flight is expected to increase the number of flight connections available for local travelers.
“Adding this third daily flight between Pocatello and our hub in Salt Lake City dramatically affects our connecting opportunities beyond Salt Lake City,” Airport Manager David Allen said. “Travelers will see many more convenient scheduling opportunities when they book their travel. Inbound travelers also will benefit from the new connecting opportunities.”
Reports by air service consultant Forecast Inc. shows the new schedule will increase the number of connecting flights with Delta by 61 percent and add 19 markets that can connect from Pocatello.
The current two flights a day schedule doesn’t work or is difficult for many local travelers, Allen said. Airport officials said as a result there is a market for an extra flight.
The new schedule will need to attract about 30 additional outbound travelers a day to continue to operate the third flight on a permanent basis.
Depending on the success of the third flight the airport is already looking into a fourth daily flight.
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