NOVEMBER 8, 2023:
As expected, pheasant hunting season in South Dakota kept the Pierre Regional Airport busy last month (October 2023).
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says between commercial and private flights, over 1500 people flew out of Pierre in October.
Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. Huizenga says that changes at the end of this month.
In 2022, the Pierre Regional Airport had more than 16,000 enplanements.
Denver Air also holds the EAS contract for the Watertown Regional Airport. From there, people can fly to either Denver or Chicago.
2023 enplanements from the Pierre Regional Airport:
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January– 944
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February– 972
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March– 1137
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April– 1045
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May– 1378
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June– 1433
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July– 1440
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August– 1257
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September– 1333
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October– 1534
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OCTOBER 4, 2023:
September (2023) enplanement numbers were steady again at the Pierre Regional Airport.
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says over 1300 people flew out last month.
Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. That will go down to 10 weekly round trip flights to Denver starting Nov. 30, 2023, when they replace two Denver routes with two weekly round trip flights to Minneapolis.
Denver Air also holds the EAS contract for the Watertown Regional Airport. From there, people can fly to either Denver or Chicago.
2023 enplanements from the Pierre Regional Airport:
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January– 944
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February– 972
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March– 1137
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April– 1045
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May– 1378
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June– 1433
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July– 1440
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August– 1257
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September– 1333
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AUGUST 2, 2023:
July (2023) enplanement numbers show another busy month at the Pierre Regional Airport.
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says the numbers continue to trend upward.
Huizenga says people can start booking flights from Pierre to Minneapolis, a route that will begin Nov. 30.
Denver Air Connection currently provides 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. That will go down to 10 weekly round trip flights to Denver starting Nov. 30, 2023, when they replace two Denver routes with two weekly round trip flights to Minneapolis.
2023 enplanements from the Pierre Regional Airport:
-
January– 944
-
February– 972
-
March– 1137
-
April– 1045
-
May– 1378
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June– 1433
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July– 1440
JULY 5, 2023,
For the fourth month in a row, over 1000 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport.
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says June was the busiest month so far this year (2023).
As a federal Essential Air Service airport, if Pierre goes over the 10,000 boardings number, it’s eligible for $1-million from the US Department of Transportation.
Denver Air Connection has the EAS contract for Pierre. They currently provide 12 round trip flights each week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. That will go down to 10 weekly round trip flights to Denver starting Nov. 30, 2023, when they replace two Denver routes with two weekly round trip flights to Minneapolis. Huizenga says work continues behind the scenes to make those flights happen.
In 2022, the Pierre Regional Airport had more than 16,000 commercial enplanements.
Photo credit Jody Heemstra, DRG Media Group.
JUNE 7, 2023:
For the third month in a row, over 1000 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport.
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says 1378 flew out of Pierre in May (2023).
With five months of data, Huizenga says passenger numbers remain strong this year.
In April (April 2023), the US Department of Transportation approved a new, two year Essential Air Service contract with Pierre’s current commercial air service carrier, Denver Air Connection. The contract allows for continuing service from Pierre to Denver International Airport, but also adding weekly round trip flights from Pierre to Minneapolis. Logistics of the Minneapolis flights are still being worked out.
Denver Air Connection also serves the Watertown Regional Airport and Manager Rob Cyrus says they had 1,519 boardings in May. Of that total, 993 passengers were destined for Denver and the other 526 to Chicago.
If Pierre’s airport goes over the 10,000 boardings number, it’s eligible for $1-million from the federal Department of Transportation.
2023 enplanements from the Pierre Regional Airport:
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January– 944
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February– 972
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March– 1137
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April– 1045
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May– 1378
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MAY 3, 2023:
For the second month in a row, over 1000 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport.
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says 1045 flew out of Pierre in April, down from 1137 enplanements in March.
Last month (April 2023), the US Department of Transportation approved a new, two year Essential Air Service contract with Pierre’s current commercial air service carrier, Denver Air Connection. The contract allows for continuing service from Pierre to Denver International Airport, but also adding weekly round trip flights from Pierre to Minneapolis.
Denver Air Director of Business Development Jon Coleman says they are working through the logistics for travelers to Minneapolis.
Again, while they’re still working though logistics, Coleman has some idea where their boarding gate would be in Minneapolis.
DAC’s current EAS contract with Pierre goes through the end of the month (May 31, 2023).
Denver Air also holds the EAS contract for the Watertown Regional Airport. From there, people can fly to either Denver or Chicago.
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APRIL 12, 2023:
Despite having to be closed for a few days because of blizzards, over 1100 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport last month (March 2023).
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says 1137 flew out of Pierre, up from the 972 in February and 944 enplanements in January of this year.
Denver Air Connection has the current federally subsidized Essential Air Service contract for the Pierre Regional Airport and was the only company to submit a bid for the upcoming EAS contract. Pierre City officials have asked the US Department of Transportation to approve a flight schedule that includes four weekly round trip flights to Minneapolis and eight weekly round trip flights to Denver.
Huizenga says they’re still waiting to hear from the USDOT.
If Pierre’s airport goes over the 10,000 boardings number, it’s eligible for $1-million from the federal Department of Transportation.
DAC currently provides 12 flights per week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. There are two flights per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
DAC’s current EAS contract goes through May 31, 2023.
2023 enplanements from the Pierre Regional Airport:
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January– 944
-
February– 972
-
March– 1137
.
MARCH 11, 2023:
Just shy of 975 people flew out of the Pierre Regional Airport last month (February 2023).
City commissioner Jamie Huizenga says there were 972 boardings in February compared to 999 in the same month last year.
Denver Air Connection has the current federally subsidized Essential Air Service contract for the Pierre Regional Airport and was the only company to submit a bid for the upcoming EAS contract. Pierre City officials have asked the US Department of Transportation to approve a flight schedule that includes four weekly round trip flights to Minneapolis and eight weekly round trip flights to Denver. But, Huizenga says because the EAS contract is between the US DOT and Denver Air, Pierre has to wait for them to make a decision.
DAC’s current EAS contract runs through May 31, 2023.
DAC currently provides 12 flights per week between Pierre and the Denver International Airport. There are two flights per day on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
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