Elected officials and local media got a sneak preview of what’s to come at McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, beginning December 1.
The airport celebrated the inaugural arrival of Denver Air Connection (DAC) and featured a water salute when the aircraft arrived and a 45-minute flight – or test drive – for approximately 50 invited guests.
But the real work begins in less than one month when the airline begins offering flights from Jackson to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
“The Atlanta, Chicago (destinations) fits the need … we have 12 round trips a week,” said Jon Coleman, senior vice president of corporate strategy. “We’re honored the community gave us a chance.
“There’s an unbelievable amount of connectivity out of Jackson right now, but most important, though, this airplane is going to show up and leave when we say it’s going to.”
The timing could not be better for the airport, which offers new runways with needed accessories, and renovation in the near future for an aging terminal.
“I was told by someone several years ago by someone I still respect to this day, that ‘a community without reliable air service will never grow,’” Smith said. “What we are seeing today is – reliable air service came back to Jackson.”
But Smith said several issues – de-regulation of the airlines in 1977 – had the McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport back to square one.
“We’ve had to work our way back into it,” Smith said. “We’ve had carriers that didn’t do as good a job as they promised. It’s been a journey to get to this point.”
(PHOTO: From left, Jon Coleman, Steve Smith and Matt Galan, flight officer, Key Lime Air – Englewood, Colorado)
