ST. CLOUD, MINN. – William Towle, airport manager at St. Cloud Regional Airport, has announced that airline service is resuming. Allegiant Airlines will fly twice weekly between St. Cloud and Phoenix/Mesa Gateway Airport beginning December 15, 2012. “We are upgrading security to meet the Category III level of security that is required due to the size of their aircraft,” says Towle. Towle continues talks with the airlines to meet community demand for flights to Chicago.
Corporate traffic remains strong at STC, but other general aviation numbers are expected to decrease once the St. Cloud State University’s aviation program closes its doors once the last junior currently enrolled completes the program.
St. Cloud Regional Airport is a public airport located 4 miles east of the central business district of St. Cloud, Minnesota. The airport covers 1,414 acres and has two runways: Runway 13/31 (7000 x 150 ft. concrete with an ILS) and Runway 5/23 (3000 x 75 ft. asphalt).
Regional airports throughout the country are faced with a lack of airline service as federal subsidies dry up, and airlines restructure to cut expenses, providing increased opportunities for charter and corporate aviation.