United Airlines will add seasonal flights to Houston and Chicago from Durango in June.
It is the second expansion to seasonal service the airport has announced this month. American Airlines also plans to offer Saturday flights from Durango to Chicago O’Hare International Airport for the first time this summer, from June 8 to Aug. 17.
The expansion in service is a reflection of a healthy demand for air travel locally and nationally, said Tony Vicari, director of aviation at Durango-La Plata County Airport.
It will also be a welcome expansion for many local travelers interested in new destinations, he said.
“It’s exciting to announce that type of addition of service,” Vicari said.
He doesn’t expect the airport to announce any more service expansions for 2019.
United Airlines plans to offer a round-trip flight to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston each Saturday from June 8 through Oct. 26 on a 76-seat Embraer E-175 aircraft.
United’s schedule to Chicago O’Hare International Airport will mirror the Houston schedule. It will be served with a 70-seat, two-cabin Bombardier CRJ-700 aircraft.
From Houston, passengers can connect to flights that service destinations throughout the southeastern United States and many cities in Latin America.
The new connection to Chicago will provide connections to the Midwest, East Coast and many international destinations.
The Durango airport also offers flights to Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver and Phoenix year-round. It served more than 372,000 passengers in 2017.
Passengers can purchase airline tickets from Durango to Houston and from Durango to Chicago at united.com.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
