GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) - Thursday was quite a breeze.
Angela Padalecki, executive director at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, states, “We're excited because today we are adding a new line of service here at the airport.”
Breeze Airways is now adding a Las Vegas route to the Grand Junction Regional Airport. GJT officials tell WesternSlopeNow, the flights for Breeze will be twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays plus it will be a year-round service.
Candice Carnahan, president and CEO of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, states, “It's a very short flight, and it provides an opportunity to impact us economically, while also adding convenience and connectivity to other locations because once you get to Las Vegas, you can go a lot of different areas from there.”
But Thursday night, travelers got a surprise once they left the aircraft. They were gifted with goodie bags, food and even comfortable socks with the Las Vegas and Breeze logo to commemorate the new service.
WesternSlopeNow spoke with GJT flight enthusiast Mike Waddell who flies on inaugural flights out of Grand Junction. He said the best part of these flights are the reactions.
Waddell states, “It's always a pleasant surprise to see other passengers walk off the flights. And have all these goodies that the airport and the airline provides them, and it's always, it's like, 'Oh, shoot. I didn't know this was the first flight.'”
Padalecki states, "It is remarkable how many passengers don't realize that they're flying on the inaugural flight. And then they're surprised when they get to the airport and it's the first flight. It's one of my favorite parts, is actually that surprise element, and then getting to see it."
Carnahan tells WesternSlopeNow to have these types of flights wouldn't have been possible without the help of our local taxpayers.
Carnahan states, “If it wasn't for the amazing support of taxpayers in our community voting to support the lodging tax increase, which allows us to support services like this, it would make it much more difficult to be able to come in and retain these fights in these types of situations.”