Prescott Regional Airport announces added Denver frequency, $6.5M federal grants and fall air‑fest

John Kebrick, representing Prescott Regional Airport, updated the committee on flight schedules, grant awards and planned events. He said SkyWest will add a second frequency to Denver beginning Oct. 26; the change will shift one morning Denver departure to 9 a.m., move the Los Angeles flight from evening to 11:20 a.m., and add a late‑afternoon Denver departure, which staff said should improve airline connections.
Kebrick reported the airport expects stronger enplanements as the LA schedule shifts to earlier in the day and said airport leadership is pursuing additional frequencies and destinations with SkyWest. He said total enplanements year to date were about 14,324 and that the airport hopes to reach about 26,000 enplanements for the year, up from about 25,308 last year.
On funding, Kebrick said the city will receive more than $6.5 million in federal grants largely for airfield maintenance and hangar development and that the airport was awarded $3.5 million in state funding to expand a shared‑use ramp with the U.S. Forest Service on land near Melville Road. Kebrick said some grants permit revenue‑generating projects such as executive‑style hangars under prior grant terms.
Kebrick also described private operator Cutter Aviation’s ramp expansion and said demand from corporate jets is increasing. He said the airport will host a static air‑fest on Oct. 6, with displays and flyovers, and that the airport will mark its 100th anniversary in 2026 and host the Arizona Airports Association spring conference then.
Committee members asked whether the new Denver frequency is permanent; Kebrick said the added Denver flight is permanent and that United/SkyWest is still updating the reservation system, which may limit how far out customers can book. He also noted ongoing airport development opportunities on a city‑owned parcel and said staff will keep the committee updated.
This item was a staff update; there was no formal committee action recorded.