Air service may increase to Helena, Billings stops

By Bill Vander Weele
Sidney Herald
Published on Sunday, October 5, 2008 9:20 AM MDT

According to a member of the Montana Essential Air Service task force, Great Lakes Airlines may increase its air service in Sidney.

“They are working on a combined flight to Billings and Helena,” Walt McNutt, Sidney, said of Great Lakes Airlines. “But they won’t know anything for sure until November.”

McNutt said such a flight would be very beneficial, especially to Helena during the legislative session.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” McNutt said. “There are a lot of ifs in there.”

The state representative says work is also under way for Great Lakes to use a Brazilian aircraft in Sidney that is a 31-passenger with a flight attendant and a restroom.

Sidney and Lewistown are the only essential air service locations in Montana that are currently being served by Great Lakes. Flights are being offered to and from Denver.

The improvements made at the Richland-Sidney Airport play a role in why the area has air service.

“We’ve already got the facility redone. The TSA is in here,” McNutt said. “We’re poised as good as we can be. They’re pretty optimistic that they will be adding another flight.”

Essential Air Service is a program enacted to guarantee small communities across the country maintain commercial air service. The program is funded through taxes on international flights.

editor@sidneyherald.com

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