New direct flight to LAX begins today

In recent years, more visitors flying in to Glacier Park International Airport flew in on itineraries that originated in California than any other state.

Now, as part of a years-long effort to bolster the flight opportunities in and out of the valley, commercial airline giant United Airlines will offer direct, daily flights to Los Angeles International Airport. The direct flights will begin today, June 7.

The new route comes on the heels of a direct flight to San Francisco International Airport the airline began last year. Direct flights between LAX and Missoula International Airport will also begin June 7.

“United’s summer service between Los Angeles and Kalispell opens a whole new world of outdoor travel opportunities for our customers,” said United Airlines Vice-President of Domestic Network Planning Ankit Gupta in a statement. “We are excited to connect Southern California to the beauty of the Flathead and Glacier National Park.”

The new flight also comes after a record-breaking year for visitation numbers to Glacier National Park, despite a horrific fire season, and this year could shatter the record again.

The direct flight to LAX is scheduled to depart daily from Los Angeles at 9:30 a.m. Mountain Standard Time and arrive at Glacier Park International Airport at 12:20 p.m. It will turn around and depart from the Flathead Valley at 12:58 p.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 3:38 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.

At a presentation before the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce in May, Glacier Park International Airport Director Rob Ratkowski said economic data has shown that expanding flight offers will likely have wide-ranging positive economic impacts to the valley.

Tourists who arrive by air spend more money per day in the state than visitors that arrive by any other mode of transportation, Ratkowski said. They also tend to stay longer on average than visitors that arrive by other modes of transportation.

Local groups, such as Glacier Airline Enhancement Regional Organization, have been fundraising in the Flathead Valley to come up with money to offer minimum revenue agreements to airlines to incentivize them to offer new flights in and out of Glacier Park International Airport.

Essentially, the organization tells the airline that if they don’t make a predetermined amount of money off the flight, the organization will pay the difference to make sure the airline meets their desired level of profitability.

If the airline does fill the flights sufficiently to meet their minimum revenue desires, the money stays with AERO and can be used again to offer as a revenue agreement for a different destination in the future.

As visitation goes up at area attractions and the economy continues to improve, the airport is also seeing more passengers than ever before. As travel times to the Flathead decrease with the addition of new direct flights, the accessibility is putting our valley on the map of more and more potential tourists.

“We’re not so remote anymore,” Ratkowski said.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.