EDITORIAL: AERO program is soaring success

All roads lead to Rome, and all airlines fly to ... well... not Kalispell, as anyone who has arranged travel in and out of the valley knows.

That may be starting to change in a small way, though, thanks to the efforts of a business-based program called the Glacier Airline Enhancement and Retention Outreach, or Glacier AERO.

AERO, which is spearheaded by businesses and organizations that benefit from tourism, aims to increase flights into Glacier Park International Airport, especially in the winter and shoulder seasons. It does so by providing a minimum revenue guarantee to airlines willing to commit aircraft to a direct flight into Kalispell.

First up has been a weekly direct flight by United Airlines to and from Chicago. AERO had to put up $235,000 as a guarantee, but because the flight proved to be very popular, only a fraction of that amount was actually paid to United.

Indeed, United was so pleased with the flight that it has already scheduled the round-trip service again for next winter.

Considering the amount of economic benefit that each visitor to the Flathead represents, this kind of innovative program is likely to pay dividends for years to come. More flights and more airlines will ultimately be involved as well, leading to the potential for direct flights to San Francisco, Texas and other locations.

Congratulations to all involved — and thanks!

Welcome to summer!

Summer begins in two ways this weekend.

The calendar officially turns to summer on Sunday (the summer solstice) and today Glacier National Park’s summer begins with the full opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road. The latter is always highly anticipated: The date when vehicles can travel all the way over Logan Pass symbolizes the full opening of our cherished park.

Travelers from the west side have been able to drive to Logan Pass since June 11. As of this morning, that privilege is extended to east-side motorists on Sun Road.

Summer is here; let’s all enjoy it.