All SkyWest flights landing at Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey were full Tuesday. And station manager Theresa Mills said the crowds have been consistent this week.
"We've all been trying to figure it out as to why," she said.
Mills said business for December and most of January was in tune with the previous year, but bookings are looking up for February.
SkyWest, which flies to and from Salt Lake City, increased its flights on Dec. 17, jumping from five daily flights to eight. The 25-passenger Delta Connection planes link to numerous Salt Lake City flights, bringing a maximum of 200 passengers a day.
Friedman's other airline, Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air, has also been reporting good news. Carol Waller, executive director of the Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau, said February bookings with the airline and the number of passengers over the past two months have been "significantly" higher than those of the previous year.
"It's all good," she said. "And not just a small increase but significant."
The chamber receives flight reservation counts from the Fly Sun Valley Alliance, a consortium of business interests that seeks to promote air service to and from Blaine County, but the specific numbers are confidential.
Waller attributes the increase to new low fares offered on days the airline struggles to attract customers.
Horizon flies 70-passenger planes into the valley twice every day until March 27. One flight comes from Los Angeles and the other from Seattle. During traditionally low-count passenger days, Los Angeles customers can fly to and from Sun Valley at $99 one-way during the week and $119 during the weekend. Seattle customers can hop on a plane for $119 one-way.
Waller said the chamber organized the low fares with Horizon.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
A Horizon plane takes off from Friedman Memorial Airport. Photo by Mountain Express
