After clearing some federal hurdles with the TSA essential air service returned to Salina this week.

Tim Rogers Executive Director at Salina Airport Authority joined in on the KSAL Morning News with a smile.

“It took awhile. It took great effort and almost literally an act of Congress to get Salina up and approved for federalization so the TSA could get here,” he said.

Great Lakes Airlines was poised to begin flights back in April, but TSA officials balked at sending agents due to budget constraints.

A Kansas congressional delegation and Transportation officials were able to hammer out an authorization agreement for the airports the size of Salina around the country.

Commercial flights to and from Denver are now possible at Salina Regional Airport.

“The Denver hub is the fifth busiest in the country with over 1,500 daily departures, and over 180 non-stop destinations,” Rogers said.

“The connectivity is huge and we’re also finding that a number of people that have a need just to be in Denver.”

Great Lakes Airlines is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Denver and boasts a fleet of 30-seat turbo prop aircraft with a stand up cabin, flight attendant and lavatory on board.
There are two daily flights on weekdays, and one flight daily on Saturday and Sunday.