People Magazine
Commercial Air Service Just Returned to This U.S. City for the First Time in Over 30 Years
The city marked the “exciting milestone” on July 1
By Natalia Senanayake
NEED TO KNOW
- Natchez-Adams County Airport welcomed commercial air service back this month after more than 30 years
- United Airlines now offers nonstop flights from Natchez to Houston with connections to over 200 destinations worldwide
- A $500,000 federal grant will reportedly help pay off the airport's new 10,000-square-foot terminal transformation with modern amenities
A city in Mississippi marked a major milestone this month when it welcomed the official return of commercial air service after more than 30 years.
Natchez-Adams County Airport in Natchez, Miss., celebrated the milestone on Wednesday, July 1 when United Flight 5086 operated by SkyWest Airlines touched down for the first time around 1 p.m. local time, according to The Natchez Democrat. The plane, a CRJ 200 jet that can hold 50 passengers, was arriving from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The Mayor of Natchez, Dan Gibson, took to his official Facebook page to document the historic moment of “the first commercial flight into Natchez in over 30 years,” he wrote.
Gibson also shared that the ribbon on the new hangar was officially cut on July 1, noting that it required a million-dollar-plus transformation to be turned into a “state-of-the-art terminal.” The ceremony took place just 17 weeks after the project was started, according to the post.
Per The Natchez Democrat, the 10,000-square-foot terminal, which is the airport's largest hangar, now features TSA and other modern amenities that it didn't have before.
During a press conference held after the first plane landed, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith announced a $500,000-plus federal grant would go toward paying off the new terminal, according to the outlet.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, Chris Earley — United's Senior Regional Manager, Airport Operations — said the milestone will now make traveling for Natchez residents much easier.
“This is an exciting milestone for the Natchez community and we at United are thrilled to provide nonstop service between Natchez and Houston,” Earley said. “Travelers will be able to conveniently reach Houston as well as destinations across United's leading global route network through seamless one-stop connections.”
The airport's official website also provides additional information about the new service that connects Natchez to Houston “and beyond” through United Airlines.
“For the first time, you can fly directly from home to one of the nation's busiest hubs, opening up seamless travel to hundreds of destinations worldwide. No more long drives to distant airports—your journey starts right here,” the website reads.
The airport's website also notes that the connections through Houston, which takes about an hour to get to from Natchez, offer “over 200 domestic and international destinations now within reach from your hometown airport.”