BOZEMAN, Mont. — UPDATE: 11/5/19, 12:20 PM - An 8th airline will begin flying into the Bozeman-Yellowstone International Airport next June.
Airport and Chamber of Commerce officials say Sun Country Airlines of Minneapolis will begin twice a week service Between Minneapolis and Bozeman on June 3, 2020.
A new direct flight is a nice addition to Bozeman, but the airport is trying to attract an even bigger prize - Southwest Airlines. Airport Director Brian Sprenger says this could help.
"I think anytime that we have a kind of a high profile add into our market, it makes it more likely for the future for other airlines to be looking at our market," Sprenger said.
Southwest has been hit hard by the Boeing 737-Max groundings and canceled 9,500 flights in the third quarter alone. In that time, the only new routes for Southwest have been to Hawaii.
Bozeman Chamber of Commerce President Daryl Schliem says the community grows every time new air services are added.
"From what we've seen every time we open a new direct flight and a new direct market, we see multiple businesses and multiple home ownerships that come as a result of that,” said Schliem.
Sprenger says Sun Country will offer flights at rates as low as $89 each way. There will be one flight to Minneapolis and one flight to Bozeman on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Unlike some other airline deals, Sun Country is not receiving a guaranteed payment from local businesses if the flights do not fill up.
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Another airline will be touching down at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport with summer seasonal nonstop service between BZN and Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
Sun Country Airlines will operate on Wednesday and Saturday beginning on June 3, 2020.
“We are excited to welcome Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport to our growing network to provide service to Minneapolis-St. Paul,” said Sun Country Chief Revenue Officer Grant Whitney. “We’re committed to affordably connecting guests to their favorite people, places and memories, and we look forward to bringing that commitment to Bozeman.”
The Wednesday and Saturday flights will depart Minneapolis at 8:05 a.m. and arrive in Bozeman at 9:30 a.m. The Bozeman flights will depart at 10:25 a.m. and arrive in Minneapolis at 1:37 p.m.
“We are pleased to have Sun Country launch their service to Montana with flights to Bozeman,” said Brian Sprenger, Airport Director. “Their service to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul will bring low fares to one of our busiest markets and provide more access to and from Bozeman to cities throughout the Sun Country Airlines network.”
