(KNOX) – Grand Forks International Airport will receive the full one million dollars for a Small Community Air Service Grant, for which Grand Forks and East Grand Forks raised a half-million dollars toward the application.
Airport Authority Executive Director Ryan Riesinger told KNOX the news came about two hours after the Airport Authority’s monthly meeting Thursday morning.
Riesinger says Sky West is prepared to start non-stop air service between Grand Forks and Denver by the end of 2025.
He said “there’s nothing concrete” about Delta Airlines returning a fourth flight to GFK…and that’s creating big gaps in the flight schedule.
Allegiant Airlines will add seasonal flights in January, three times weekly to Mesa, Arizona and twice weekly to Orlando, Florida.
Thursday was the first day that air carrier operators could use the recently completed crosswind runway. The five-year, $69 million project was funded by more than 50 million federal dollars, 8.7 million state dollars…and 10.7 million local dollars.
The primary runway project is targeted for bids during the summer of 2025.
The Airport Authority reviewed the half-dozen state safety proposals for the intersection of Airport Drive and Highway 2. Riesinger says “there is no silver bullet” among commissioners, but the Diamond Interchange, which would take the longest to construct, is the leader to make the “urban interchange” safer. The bottom line is that the eventual solution cannot cut off north-south traffic.
The Authority moved Thursday to accept a bid of $107,181.85 from Gowan Construction to demolish the old T-hangars, some of which date back to 1963. The plan is to repurpose the land for larger corporate aircraft.
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