City of Yakima Looking for Ways to Increase the Use of Airport

Yakima city officials want to know what it will take to get people to use the airport. The city wants more people flying in and out of their hometown instead of driving to SeaTac or Pasco. Many people fly out of Yakima only to end up waiting for hours at SeaTac.

Tightening up that schedule is a top priority for the Yakima Air Terminal as well as increasing the number of flights to and from Seattle so travelers do not waste time waiting for a connection. Yakima's Economic Development Manager Sean Hawkins says using the Yakima Airport helps pay the bills to make improvements.

Those long-term goals include non-stop flights to Denver, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City. The city will be handing out three different surveys to people flying out of the airport, people staying at hotels, and a focus group to help them decide what steps to take next.