Passenger boardings at Watertown Regional Airport climb back over 1,000 mark in May

June 9, 2021
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Business has been picking up at Watertown Regional Airport as the country continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airport Manager Todd Syhre says 1,048 passengers boarded flights in May. That’s the strongest monthly showing since the pandemic began in early 2020, and it’s a healthy increase from the 680 passengers who flew out of Watertown in April.

Passenger numbers bottomed out in April 2020, when just 45 people boarded flights.

SkyWest Airlines, flying as United Express, provides non-stop jet service from Watertown to Denver and Chicago.

A second airline, Denver Air Connection, has been awarded a two year Essential Air Service contract, and is scheduled to begin serving Watertown on July 1st.