For passengers flying out of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, heading directly west is about to become an option starting May 5.
GTR Airport is partnering with American Airlines, operated by SkyWest Airlines, to offer a westbound flight to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Executive Director Matt Dowell said at a Tuesday announcement event. There will be one daily flight each way between the airport and Dallas/Fort Worth, he said.
“We are thrilled to have these American Airlines flights here at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport,” Dowell said in a press release. “American Airlines has an excellent reputation across the country. Offering both eastbound and westbound service will significantly enhance our ability to serve our community.”
During the announcement, Dowell said American Airlines is a “new service provider to our region.” SkyWest Airlines, a contractor for American, will operate the flights.
“We are excited to bring additional options to travelers at GTR,” Cody Thomas, SkyWest Airlines’ managing director of marketing development, said in the press release. “The increased access and connections available from American’s DFW hub will make it better than ever to fly from the Golden Triangle Regional Airport.”
DFW is the second largest single airline hub in the world with nonstop connections to more than 230 destinations worldwide and 900 daily departures. With the new partnership, GTR Airport is now connected to two of the largest hubs in the world, Dowell said, as the airport has previously worked with Delta Airlines to provide two daily eastbound flights to Atlanta.
Bringing a westbound flight to GTR Airport has been an effort that has taken more than a decade, Dowell said. Former airport director Mike Hainsey started working in 2014 to establish a “risk abatement” fund that includes up to $1.5 million to offset potential first year losses for its westbound carrier.
Betsy Young, vice president for economic development for the Golden Triangle Development LINK, said that fund is still in place on the same terms.
The risk abatement fund includes up to $750,000 in a Small Community Air Service Development grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, along with up to $500,000 in matching funds from local entities.
The match includes $125,000 each from Lowndes and Columbus, $100,000 from Starkville and Oktibbeha County and $25,000 each from West Point and Clay County, based on the percentage of the airport each entity owns, Young said.
The fund also includes up to $250,000 in a grant from the state, she said.
However, that money will only be used if American experiences an income shortfall within the first year, and if the carrier experiences a lesser shortfall, a smaller amount of the funds will be used, Young said.
Flights to DFW and beyond are available for purchase now at aa.com or through American’s mobile app. Tickets are already on sale, Dowell said.
MSU, CAFB, LINK response
Dowell also emphasized the impact this addition of a westbound flight could have on the region as a whole, as air service is “such a big part” of connecting incoming and outgoing passengers to the communities within the Golden Triangle.
“It’s a great example of what can be done when our communities and our region work together,” Dowell said at the announcement event.
Mississippi State University Vice President of Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan said the new flight will make it easy for the university to do business with other entities, particularly those spread across the west side of the country. She said MSU is looking forward to “helping fill those planes up” once they start flying in May.
“Mississippi State University is one of the largest, if not the largest, user of this airport,” Jordan said. “We couldn’t do our business, honestly, without this airport. The fact that we have an airport just 10 miles from our campus is almost unbelievable for a rural land grant institution like ours.”
Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Rosenzweig with the Columbus Air Force Base also extended his gratitude to the airport on behalf of 14th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. James Blech, as the new flight will help the base with its mission.
“Your unwavering support is the cornerstone of our mission to care for our airmen and their families,” Rosenzweig said. “… Golden Triangle Regional Airport serves as the closest commercial airport to our installation. This proximity is crucial for accessing vital training opportunities, fulfilling other official duties, and our airmen utilizing their leave to go home.”
Young said the westbound flight will help to improve the region’s accessibility, which will help with recruiting companies and industry to the area, along with helping companies that are already located in the area become more successful.
“When we have companies who are looking to do business here, one of the first things they say is ‘how can we get there?’” Young said. “They want to know how they can get here and how they can recruit talent. Again, this is a huge, huge day for all of us, for economic development.”
“This is not just more flights on a schedule,” Young added. “This really is a connection to a brighter future for our entire region.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 31 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
