The addition of the Minneapolis flight in November of 2017 has really paid off for the entire EUP and Algoma region. Total passengers at Chippewa County Int’l Airport increased 5.5% in 2018. 46,343 passengers flew to/from the Chippewa County Airport in 2018. “The new flight to Minneapolis had never been tried and we weren’t sure how it would be received by the flying public”, stated Airport Manager Tami Beseau.
The thought process behind the additional hub change was that CIU passengers would have more flight options, competitive pricing, greater international flight options, and we would also eliminate the 5:00 a.m. departure which was an inconvenience to our customers. After one full year of the new route, it appears passengers have found it beneficial.
“The fact that an airport our size is providing service to both Detroit and Minneapolis is a huge economic tool for our entire area, and the benefits for leisure and business travelers to compare schedules, routes and prices makes air travel out of the local airport an option, and that wasn’t always the case”, said Beseau.
We are expecting the upward trend to continue in 2019, as CIU ticket prices continue to be competitive; the airport will continue to offer free parking (for air travelers); and Skywest Airline (Delta carrier) will continue providing excellent air service. In 2019 the airport will work with the air carrier in hopes that additional flights will be added during the summer months when passenger ridership averages 85%.
For more information regarding flight schedules, visit: Airciu.com, and for tickets and pricing go to Delta.com.
The Chippewa County EDC manages the Chippewa County International Airport. Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation’s mission is to encourage economic growth through strengthening the county’s competitive position and facilitating investments that build capacity, create jobs, generate economic opportunity and improve quality of life.
