St. Cloud Flights To Chicago Ending Friday

ST. CLOUD -- A one-year trial period for direct flights between St. Cloud and Chicago ends tomorrow (Friday). United is eliminating the SkyWest flights because it hasn't proven profitable enough to continue them.

St. Cloud Airport Director Bill Towle says losing the air service is a disappointment, but they won't be laying off any staff and it's business as usual for the airport staff.  He says they have other flights coming and going on a daily basis and they need their current staffing levels to handle the day-to-day operations.

Towle says they'll take the next several weeks and months reviewing what happened with the failed Chicago flights.

Meanwhile, St Cloud officials, the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation and airport leaders continue efforts to add flights and add air service to St. Cloud.

Towle says they are having ongoing discussions with Allegiant Air to add destinations like Las Vegas, Denver and Orlando. He says Allegiant was happy with the Orlando flights last winter, but changes in Federal Aviation Administration rules regarding pilot service time has left Allegiant without enough pilots to bring the flights back this year.

Towle also says despite the failed trial with SkyWest Air to provide daily flights to and from Chicago, the windy city is still among the top destinations for central Minnesotans who fly.