Air service in GI/Kearney

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:54 am

Essential Air Service contracts recently were awarded that knocks out westbound Denver service from and to Grand island in favor of Air Midwest service to Omaha and Kansas City, sharing planes that originate in McCook. Meanwhile, Kearney retained Great Lakes service to and from Denver, non-stop. Great Lakes crew, staff and service facilities that were based in GI will move out in October. Great Lakes recognizes the value in the Denver connections and has announced that they'll convert the flights from Kearney to 30 seat planes from the previously used 19 seaters, resulting in planes with a flight attendant, beverage carts and restrooms. GI's Air Midwest flights will likely remain 19 seaters. http://www.theindependent.com/stories/0 ... ey17.shtml

Question, is having service to Omaha and Kansas City at the cost of losing all service to Denver a step up, no change, or a step back?

In other news, GI's airport just finished a major upgrade...
http://www.theindependent.com/stories/0 ... rt17.shtml

49r · Post by **49r** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 9:55 am

It's a step back, because from DIA, practically everywhere in the US is a direct flight. (One connection)

From Omaha, you're gonna have to connect again unless your destination is a hub city like Chicago, Dallas, or Denver. Same thing for flying out of MCI. (Two or more connections, usually)

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:46 am

I'm probably in agreement with 49r here..

From a travel convenience/efficiency standpoint, it's a step back..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Post by **Coyote** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:59 am

Absolutely a step back. Denver is a hub for several airlines. I am surprised by that decision.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:04 am

From the GI Independent piece:

'Instead, at the request of the Grand Island community, eastbound flights will be provided out of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.'..

That is curious..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 6:57 am

From the GI Independent piece:

'Instead, at the request of the Grand Island community, eastbound flights will be provided out of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.'..

That is curious..

An explanation...
In the EAS application, popular demand was for a combination of East and West service, with the two desired destinations being Denver and Minneapolis. Alternatives were discussed that included Denver/Kansas City and Denver/Omaha. What GI never expected, after bids came in and were presented to the feds, was that a dual hub would not be considered. The Great Lakes dual hub bid wasn't an awful lot more than the one chosen, but it came down to $$$.

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 7:40 am

In most cases, KC will get people where they want to go, at least domestically, and I'm sure plenty of central Nebraska movers/shakers would like flights into Omaha.

On the plus side, more traffic for Eppley!

omaproud · Post by **omaproud** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 8:54 am

Am I missing something or couldn't this be considered a win/win situation? Increased flights to OMA/MCI, and larger planes heading to DIA after the short drive down I-80 from G.I. to Kearney.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:48 am

Candleshoe wrote:The Great Lakes dual hub bid wasn't an awful lot more than the one chosen, but it came down to $$$.

I knew it..And I was going to mention the suspected $$$ issue in an earlier post..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 10:40 am

Am I missing something or couldn't this be considered a win/win situation? Increased flights to OMA/MCI, and larger planes heading to DIA after the short drive down I-80 from G.I. to Kearney.

Exactly. At first I thought they were only going to have service to Omaha, but again, aside from international flights, KC will service most of their single stop needs, and there's no denying the increase in traffic which Eppley will likely see as well.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:48 am

There is certainly 2 distinct ways to look at this one..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Candleshoe · Post by **Candleshoe** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 1:40 pm

I really should have included this information at the very beginning. Consider these times and fares. Some of the local teeth gnashing is the flight times.

Mesa Airlines dba/ US Airways Express, twice daily to Omaha -- departing at 5:55 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. and offer once daily departures at 2:35 p.m. to Kansas City. One-way fares are $59 to Kansas City and $49 to Omaha.

Sample roundtrip fares:
Washington Natl $338
Phoenix $348
Las Vegas $370
LAX $345
Chicago $227
Denver $266
Boston $345
London $731
Cancun $586

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 12:57 am

That dosen't seem half bad..I'm coming around to this change being more of a positive..For GI and for Eppley..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

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Air service in GI/Kearney

Grand Island's Central Nebraska Regional Airport now has only eastbound service to Omaha and Kansas City, instead of it's former Westbound only service to Denver. Is this...

Air service in GI/Kearney