The Yuma County Airport Authority announced that they will receive a grant in the amount of $775,000 from the Department of Transportation as part of the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP). The funding can be used for a revenue guarantee for new nonstop service to Denver, CO, on United Airlines. This is the third such grant that Yuma has received under this program. This grant does not guarantee air service but is used to help attract additional providers.
“Yuma should be very proud for being selected for this grant,” said Airport Director, Gladys Brown. “It is an example of how the entire community came together to generate a sound application submittal with a designated route specific to the application.”
The airport’s grant application identified Yuma and the southwest region as being geographically isolated with limited access to the national air transportation system and included letters of support from Yuma’s State and Federal Representatives along with significant pledged financial support from public and private partners including Yuma Regional Medical Center, Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, Yuma County, City of Yuma, Visit Yuma, El Centro Chamber of Commerce, Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, Gowan Company and many more local businesses.
In mid-July 2019, Yuma International Airport submitted a grant application to the Department of Transportation seeking grant funding from the Small Community Air Service Development Program to support our quest for direct flights from Yuma to Denver, as Denver is Yuma’s second largest true market (most popular). Denver is a well-rounded hub, and provides more connectivity to the Midwest and eastern US, offering more than 500 daily departures to 163 destinations.
Over the past five years, Ms. Brown has attended air service development conferences and meetings with several airlines to convince them of the desires and need for increased commercial air service. “It is a very long process and can take up to 8-10 years to gain additional air service, but there has been some positive interest and response,” she said.
“It is important I manage everyone’s expectations about the process going forward because service will not happen overnight. It is our understanding additional gates are being constructed in Denver and United is working to acquire additional aircraft which could take up to a year or more. During that time the airport will undergo negotiations with the United team for new service.”
Until then, the Yuma International Airport team asks you to Think Yuma First and check on airfare from Yuma to your choice destination and take advantage of Yuma International Airport’s long term parking discount program with discounts by the month or year so you can come and go and save money.
