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St. Cloud Airport to Announce New Passenger Service Carrier Thursday

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Aug 21, 2012 at 3:59 pm

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KNSI) - St. Cloud will learn which airline will start flying the first passenger flights in and out of the St. Cloud Regional Airport in nearly three years on Thursday.

The Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, which has been spearheading the city's negotiating efforts with various airlines, has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference at the airport Thursday to announce a finalized deal for an air partner to begin servicing the facility.

"We have acquired one of the two types of air service that we are pursuing," GSDC spokeswoman Jami Bestgen said

While the specifics of the deal are being withheld until Thursday's announcement, Bestgen said the new carrier was expected to start flights at the airport in mid-December.

"They have already outlined a tentative flight schedule and I believe ticket sales will begin on Thursday," Bestgen said.

Bestgen said the announcement is open to the public.

Last week, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis said GSDC representatives were engaged in serious talks with SkyWest, Allegiant and United Airlines about re-establishing passenger service between St. Cloud and Chicago's O'Hare Airport. Airport officials were also in discussions with a second airline about beginning service between St. Cloud and Phoenix.

The St. Cloud Regional Airport has been without a regular passenger carrier since Delta ended its flights to and from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in December 2009.