KFYRTV.COM - Minot, ND - News, Weather, Sports
Ticket prices at the Bismarck airport are 14 percent higher than the national average, but that could be changing. The Department of Transportation recently awarded the city 500 thousand dollars in a Small Community Air Service Development Grant.
"They have some guidelines that they use to make their choices of who's going to get them each and every year," said Greg Haug, Bismarck Airport Manager. "One of the things is higher than average fares, maybe a lack of a certain amount of competition in the market and then also a growing demand and a growing travel base and area."
The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce and the Airport have decided to use the money for a new carrier, who will provide additional air service to Dallas and or Chicago.
"The trips down into Dallas or the Texas market, we think would really help out the energy sector, there are a lot of energy businesses that are located in that part of the country," said Haug.
Additional flights means more competition between airline companies, which could mean lower ticket prices for fliers.
"More competitive air fare, which is what we've been striving on the air service committee for years is to make our prices more competitive with other cities in the area,"said Cheryl Fenster, a member of the Air Service Committee.
The grant must be matched with private sector funding, and 250 thousand dollars has already been secured through commitments from community businesses.
Story and Video: http://www.kmot.com
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