Delta adds Williston-Twin Cities connection
September 17, 2012 at 10:40 am in Grand Forks Herald
Delta Air Lines is adding twice-daily, nonstop jet service between Williston and Minneapolis-St. Paul beginning in November. Continue Reading
Delta adds Williston-Twin Cities connection
5 Comments
They’ll be selling fish heads and a sip of water for a modest $5 charge in coach.
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This is great news for Williston. I have been to that town a few times this past year. It is one busy, crazy town!
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This proves that economic development drives air service and not air service driving economic development (unlike what GF leaders will try and sell you). More like Minot could not handle the traffic demand so it only makes sense to fly to ISN instead. If you took Allegiant out of the picture by the end of December Williston would have 3,000 less boardings a month. But the routes flying from DEN-ISN and MSP-ISN will bring in more revenue for Delta and UAL than GFK does. These will be high fare business flyers paying top dollar.
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Jack said: “If you took Allegiant out of the picture by the end of December Williston would have 3,000 less boardings a month”
Do you mean MINOT? or GRAND FORKS? Allegiant doesn’t fly out of Williston, so taking Allegiant out of the picture would not impact Williston’s boarding? I think Minot could be hurt somewhat by the news of United and Delta flying in and out of Williston though. Many people from Williston travel to Minot to fly “jet service” and to fly on routes like United and Delta…but many will possibly start flying out of Williston instead of driving to Minot or Bismarck. Just a thought.
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Pat I am sorry I forgot to say GFK. You are right that it will cut Minot’s numbers a little. But Minot is so dang busy and beyond their capacity right now they need the relief. Williston will have 200 seats a day and GFK will have a little over 350 seats a day. If Delta and UAL each add other flight to Williston, which should not take long, without Allegiant GFK would trail Williston in boardngs. 80% of Allegiant passengers would not be flying out of GFK if not for Allegiant. Dickinson should be getting jet service shortly also. Airlines are cutting service nationwide and these 2 smaller towns and one larger town in North Dakota are gaining service even without ESA money. This really proves are city leaders are wrong about what brings air service. They have always argued that if there was more flights the economy would grow to fill the planes. I have argued that when the economy grows the airlines will follow. Looks like I am more right than our fine city leaders.
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