NEW: Strong October puts Watertown Regional Airport in line for million dollar payment

 

November 5, 2019

Mike Tanner

KWAT Radio News

 

WATERTOWN, S.D.—October proved to be another solid month for passenger traffic at Watertown Regional Airport.

 

Airport manager Todd Syhre says 1,465 people boarded flights to Denver and Chicago during the month.

 

That puts passenger boardings for the year at around 8, 800.

 

If the city reaches the 10,000 mark, which Syhre says is likely to happen in November, they qualify for a one million dollar payout from the federal government that can be used on airport construction projects.

 

City officials have identified a new airport terminal as one of those projects. It would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $14 million.

 

Watertown was without commercial air service for most of the first four months of 2019 after previous carrier California Pacific Airlines went bankrupt. 

 

SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, offers non-stop jet service from Watertown to Denver International Airport and Chicago O’Hare.