Allegiant expresses interest in serving Scottsbluff

Scotts Bluff County Airport Board Chair Don Overman says an Allegiant airline official has contacted airport manager Darwin Skelton about the airline's interest in potential service from Scottsbluff.

Overman announced at Wednesday's board meeting that a meeting with an Allegiant official at an international airport conference in California was fruitful, and that their senior staff is interested in the local airport's proposal. A local delegation that included Overman, fellow airport board member Neal Smith, and Skelton suggested the airline provide a biweekly flight to and from Las Vegas.

Overman says the local airport officials will visit with Allegiant senior staff in the next week or so, although he cautioned any agreement with Allegiant won't happen overnight and "would be a few months off."

Overman also said groundbreaking on EagleMed's new hangar and staff building will take place Monday after an amended contract with Anderson Shaw Construction was approved. The $533,000 contract, reduced from $560,000, will allow a monthly lease rate that is favorable to EagleMed. EagleMed, which will supply air ambulance service to the community, will employ fourteen people in the new building.

EagleMed is expected to add 400 to 450 boardings for the airport, which would be critical in meeting the 10,000 annual boarding minimum to receive maximum federal funding.

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