New $2 million boarding bridge installed at Cheyenne Regional Airport

Nov. 15—CHEYENNE — Since Cheyenne Regional Airport opened its new terminal five years ago, passengers have been required to walk outside, across the tarmac and board the plane by climbing a mobile stairway.

On Wednesday, the $2 million fix was delivered.

The new jet bridge will connect the planes directly to the terminal, meaning that passengers won't have to go outside anymore to board. To some, this may seem like a negligible inconvenience, but this makes the airport more comfortable and accessible for all passengers.

"Where that becomes a challenge is if you're pushing a stroller or a wheelchair or a walker or for someone on crutches. When it's dark or it's slippery or windy or cold, it becomes a little more treacherous," said Cheyenne Regional Airport Focus Team President Wendy Volk.

Since opening in November 2018, the new terminal has hosted 103,000 passengers entering and exiting the city. Volk wants this new jet bridge to be a more welcoming gate into Cheyenne.

Currently, there are only two flights in and two flights out every day to and from Denver International Airport. The 17-minute flight is with United Express and operated by Sky West Airlines. Volk is hopeful this jet bridge upgrade, paired with the recent upgrades to the airport parking lot, will make the location more attractive to new airlines and potential expansion.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided Cheyenne Regional Airport with $5 million in grant funds beginning in 2021. The $2 million jet bridge was largely funded from these federal funds, which covered 93.75% of the cost; 3.75% was paid for by the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and the airport was responsible for the remaining 2.5%.

Leftover grant money will be put toward new snow equipment like blowers and plows to keep the runway clear.

When the airport received these funds, officials worked with groups like the Mayor's Council for People with Disabilities to identify this issue and invest in the solution.

The first step was to prepare the airport for the upgrade. This included things like reinforcing the concrete and making the door entry accessible. Next, they had to wait for the delivery.

Cheyenne Regional Airport Director of Aviation Tim Bradshaw said there are only two companies in the world that construct jet bridges, and it takes six months to complete. It was delivered to the airport by trailer on Wednesday, and staff began to set up the new equipment right away.

Bradshaw said he had hoped that the jet bridge would be functional by Thanksgiving — the highest airport traffic time of year — but said that it will be ready about a week later to allow time for staff training and safety testing.

Noah Zahn is the Wyoming Tribune Eagle's local government/business reporter. He can be reached at 307-633-3128 or nzahn@wyomingnews.com. Follow him on X @NoahZahnn.