"Tucson International Airport is seeing greater seasonal service additions than last year which was depressed by high fuel costs and the start of the global economic recession. This is encouraging news as it tells us that the support of Tucsonans who are choosing to fly Tucson airport has resulted in passenger levels that are prompting the airlines to respond with increased frequency and larger equipment," said Tucson Airport Authority (TAA) President/CEO Bonnie Allin.

      American Airlines resumed its seventh daily flight to Dallas in late August and will add an eighth daily nonstop from mid-February through April. American also offers daily nonstop service to Chicago O’Hare.

      Continental Airlines will replace its regional jet aircraft with Boeing 737s on up to two of its daily nonstop flights to Houston beginning in October and continuing through the Spring. Continental offers five daily nonstop flights to Houston.

      United Airlines will increase the number of daily flights to San Francisco from one to two in late October through mid-December. United will also replace one of its regional jet aircraft with a larger jet, an A320, for one of its four daily flights to Denver from late October through March. United also offers daily nonstop service to Los Angeles.

      Delta Air Lines will increase service to Salt Lake City from three to four daily flights beginning in mid-December. Delta also flies nonstop, daily, to Atlanta and Minneapolis.

      Southwest Airlines will add a second daily nonstop flight to Chicago Midway on January 10, 2010, through the end of March. They will also increase daily service to San Diego from three to four departures for this time period. Southwest offers daily nonstop service to Albuquerque, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles as well.

      Sun Country Airlines has announced they will resume seasonal nonstop service two times per week to Minneapolis on December 21, 2009, continuing through April 5, 2010.

      The flight will operate on Monday and Friday, departing Tucson at 4:10 p.m. and arriving in Minneapolis at 9:20 p.m. The return flight departs from Minneapolis at 2:00 p.m. and arrives in Tucson at 3:20 p.m.

      That will bring the number of airlines providing service at TIA to nine offering daily nonstop service to 15 destinations. Other airlines providing service include: Alaska (Seattle/Tacoma); Frontier (Denver); and US Airways (Phoenix).

     T-A-A

     The Tucson Airport Authority, TAA, is a nonprofit entity created by State Charter in 1948. Composed of 115 community members, the Authority has a nine-member board of directors that meets monthly. TAA President/CEO Bonnie Allin oversees day-to-day operations and a staff of 300 employees. TAA manages Tucson International Airport and Ryan Airfield.

Tucson International Airport
. All major U.S. airlines, 128 daily departures and arrivals
. 2008 Passengers: 4,225,869
. Three Runways: 11L/29R; 11R/29L; 3/21
. Land Area: 8,244 acres
. Elevation: 2,641’

Ryan Airfield
. 2008 Aircraft Operations: 168,052
. Three Runways: 6R/24L, 6L/24R, 15/33
. Land Area: 1,804 acres
. Elevation: 2,417’