REDMOND, Ore.-
Flights between Redmond and Denver have resumed for the summer.
United Express, which flew between the cities last summer, will bring back weekend service with one flight from Denver departing Colorado at 6:05 p.m. on Saturdays. The return trip from Redmond to Denver will depart at 8:15 a.m. on Sundays, starting June 9, according to the airline’s Web site.
The route will be served by a 50-seat jet.
Carrie Novick, the manager at Redmond Airport, said she only found out about the resumption of the Denver flights within the past month.
“It came as a surprise to everyone,” she said. “(United) never made an official announcement. It was just like, ‘Here it is.'”
Seattle-based Horizon Air launched daily service to Los Angeles in August, but one local business official who has worked to bring new flights to Central Oregon said it’s frustrating that United, or another airline, has not launched daily service to Denver.
“It’s perplexing as ever,” said Roger Lee, the executive director of Economic Development for Central Oregon. “From our perspective, it’s poor planning. Last year’s service was profitable for (United), from the numbers we have, and what they’re doing is scouting out the route for one of their competitors to come in.”
Denver long has been a desired destination for Central Oregonians looking for new direct routes out of Redmond Airport. In a survey conducted by the Bend Chamber of Commerce in 2005, Denver and Los Angeles topped the list of direct destinations.
“We are always listening to our customers, and we’re responding to their interest,” said Jeff Kovick, a United spokesman. “We’re constantly reviewing where we fly based on that interest.”
The airline’s Web site shows the direct flights ending Sept. 2. Kovick said there are no plans for the flight beyond that date.
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Information from: The Bulletin,
