Saturday, April 20, 2024
Fair, 71°Wind: 9.2 mph, S
Welcome to our new web site!
To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.
During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.
Passenger air service will return to the Las Cruces International Airport (KLRU) in January 2023, the City of Las Cruces said in a news release.
The announcement comes after the city finalized a two-year contract that allows Advanced Airlines to provide weekday flights between Las Cruces and Albuquerque.
Advanced Airlines, based in Hawthorne, California, and more commonly referred to as Advanced Air, has agreed to provide seven flights per week – two flights each on Monday and Friday with one flight each day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – between Las Cruces and Albuquerque.
“This is a first step toward providing more convenient travel options for Las Crucens,” said Airport Administrator Andy Hume. “We’re excited about our new relationship with Advanced Airlines. They will be providing Las Crucens with the same top-notch service as they have for other New Mexico cities.”
Advanced Air currently provides service between Silver City and Albuquerque, between Silver City and Phoenix and between Gallup and Phoenix, the city said.
Advanced Air primarily utilizes the Beechcraft Super King Air 350 for its fleet, the news release said. The twin-engine aircraft has a capacity of nine passengers.
The two-year contract includes a total budget of $3,850,000, including $1.75 million each year from the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s rural air service enhancement grant. The contract requires the city to provide $175,000 annually.
KLRU (that’s the official airport indicator) last had passenger air service in 2005 with Mesa Airlines.
Hume said the airport would like to explore the possibility of adding passenger air service to Santa Fe and interstate service to Dallas-Ft. Worth and Phoenix.
“Passenger air service has been missing from Las Cruces for nearly 20 years,” Hume said. “This new service will help business travelers and opens travel options to connecting flights out of Albuquerque.
“We’re excited about the possibilities and that this new venture will focus more attention on the airport, the growth potential we have and especially with the Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park.
“Plain and simple, this provides another travel option for business, health care needs, recreation and tourism,” Hume said.
