Flight reductions lead to fewer passengers at Pocatello’s airport

It’s been a little more than a month since SkyWest switched out its 30-seat planes with 50-seat jets at Pocatello Regional Airport. But airport officials say the new flights aren’t as popular as they had hoped.

With the new jets comes a reduction in the number of daily flights offered.

“There’s two flights instead of three, and that third flight makes a difference,” said David Allen, manager of the airport.

Allen said the airport experienced a five percent year-to-year drop in passengers when the new jets were introduced in January.

He said the new flight times are likely to blame.

“Recently, they’ve tried to make it the 6 p.m. flight is the last arrival, but that deprives people of the last late-night flight, which a lot of people like,” said Allen.

“There’s no easy way to work it with the two flights a day for some people. And so we’re cognizant of that, and we’re trying to change that,” he said.

Allen said the airport has asked SkyWest about bringing a third flight back, and he said SkyWest is open to the idea.

“We want at least three flights a day. Period,” said Allen.

Allen said the airport is considering a new marketing campaign in hopes of attracting more fliers.