Wyoming will no longer have the distinction of having the only state capital without air service.
The Cheyenne Regional Airport on Thursday announced that air service will finally resume in Cheyenne on November 1.
The airport’s runway has been under construction for months and suffered multiple delays.
Airport director Tim Barth told Cowboy State Daily that it was exciting to announce the conclusion of the delayed runway repair project.
“We are so excited to re-establish air service on Nov. 1, because all of our community in southeast Wyoming will now have access to air service, especially for the upcoming holidays,” Barth said.
The airport has been closed for commercial air travel for months, due to repairs that were originally scheduled to be completed this summer in time for Cheyenne Frontier Days.
That didn’t happen because of a nationwide shortage of a specific type of concrete that must be used according to Federal Aviation Administration rules. A lack of workers was also making the process take months longer to complete.
Barth said travelers using Denver International Airport have told him tales of agonizingly long lines and massive headaches when it comes to parking.
“If you come to our airport, you don’t have to take a shuttle. You’re parked right next to the airport and we’ve got plenty of free parking,” Barth said. “There’s no traffic on I-25 to get to the Cheyenne airport.”
Barth added that the airport is also adding a restaurant, Billy Jack’s Pizza Pub, that he is hoping will be open in January.
In September, U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis received a commitment from Department of Transportation officials to expedite federal funds to assist with the project.
“It is not a long-term solution for the city of Cheyenne to be without air service,” Lummis said. “In addition to that, it’s a huge problem for Cheyenne’s economy, it will jeopardize our state’s efforts to combat wildfires and it jeopardizes procurement for F.E. Warren Air Force Base.”
