SYRACUSE, N.Y. — United Airlines, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: UAL) plans to start offering daily, year-round, non-stop service to Denver International Airport from Syracuse Hancock International Airport beginning June 6.
In its discussions with the local business community, the airport heard a “consistent message” that people want more direct service to more cities, Christina Callahan, executive director of Syracuse Hancock International Airport, said in her remarks to open the Thursday morning announcement.
“We want service to cities out west. We want to make our commute to the west coast easier, but what we really want is direct service to Denver,” said Callahan, paraphrasing the input that airport officials had been hearing.
The new flight “improves connection opportunities to popular destinations” including Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada; San Diego and Palm Springs in California; and Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as well as creating a way for New Yorkers to travel to places like Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Billings, Montana, Medford, Oregon and Santa Barbara, California “with just one stop,” per Syracuse Regional Airport Authority’s (SRAA) news release.
Tickets are now available for purchase for the flight, the authority added.
After the formal announcement, a BJNN reporter asked Callahan if Hancock Airport offered United Airlines any incentives to attract the new Denver service to Syracuse.
“United is eligible for our very robust incentive program, which includes a combination of fee waivers and assistance with marketing and advertising,” said Callahan. “Our objectives with our incentive program is to make their entry in these new markets as easy as possible and also to get the word out that we now have this great new service out of Syracuse.”
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com