Polis commemorates first Breeze Airways flight from GJT
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) — For his second stop in the valley on Tuesday, Governor Jared Polis joined Breeze Airways and local elected officials at the Grand Junction Regional Airport to help christen the first Breeze Airways flight from Grand Junction to Orange County, California.
Going forward Breeze Airways will offer three flights a week to Santa Ana, CA:
Tuesday
Thursday
Sunday
Why come to Grand Junction? Bud Hafer with Breeze Airways told WesternSlopeNow it all comes down to their business strategy. “We look for underserved communities where they’re not getting enough air service to where they need to go.”
Getting Breeze Airways to Grand Junction was a two-way street, WesternSlopeNow spoke with Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout who pointed out that a small tax increase was a key cog in the complicated process of recruiting Breeze.
“It starts in 2018 with our voter who approved a 1% lodging tax that was dedicated to our air service alliance,” said Mayor Stout, “That money then goes into a fund that we’re able to use to be competitive and create incentives and recruit companies like Breeze Airways.”
This May, Breeze Airways will add another flight out of GJT. Breeze will fly to San Francisco two times a week and Hafer said it could be just the beginning, “
We put these two flights out here, fill up the seats and watch to see what opportunities are next. We’re always looking for additional opportunities to grow a city.
Bud Hafer, Director of Government & Airport Affairs, Breeze Airways
Right now tickets for Breeze Airways flights out of Grand Junction are $39.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
