Daily Air Service Begins Between Provo, Denver

Today Frontier Airlines began regularly scheduled flights between Provo, Utah, and Denver, Colorado.

The Provo/Utah Valley community has grown rapidly during the past few years and officials say the area is ready for expanding air service. The Salt Lake Tribune has this article about the development. Below are excerpts.

Joel Racker, president and chief executive of the Utah Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, sees it as a "game-changer" for Utahns living south of Provo, allowing them to shave an hour or more off a trip to the airport.

So how did Provo land Frontier?

The city hired a firm to see how many Utah County residents were flying — and where — by checking bookings with online travel sites. City officials then started courting airlines. Frontier bit.

The city also worked with MillionAir, a charter airline, to construct a security-screening and gate area for the Frontier flight.

Well, Provo scores another bragging point, especially as the city and Utah County prepare to open a new convention center in spring 2012.