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Elko Council approves continued Flight Alliance membership and accepts USDOT grant to restore second daily flight
Summary
The Elko City Council voted to continue a $500,000 annual membership in the Flight Alliance of Northeastern Nevada and accepted a U.S. Department of Transportation Small Community Air Service Development (SCASD) grant intended to guarantee revenue for a restored second daily flight between Elko and Salt Lake City.
Elko City Council on May 13 approved two measures aimed at stabilizing commercial air service to Elko: continuation of the city's $500,000 annual membership in the Flight Alliance of Northeastern Nevada (FAN) and acceptance — with ratification of an earlier city‑manager signature — of a federal SCASD grant to support a second daily Delta Airlines flight between Elko Regional Airport (EKO) and Salt Lake City (SLC).
FAN board member Jen said the nonprofit public‑private partnership has worked to recruit and sustain appropriate aircraft and schedules for the Elko catchment area, pointing to a shift from 76‑seat aircraft to 50‑seat CRJ‑550 service that began in July 2024. “We believe that's the right size for Elko,” she told council, and asked the city to match Elko County's $500,000 commitment for FY2026 to maintain the alliance’s minimum revenue guarantee (MRG).
Mayor Rhys Keener and other council members emphasized the airport's importance to business and to federal airport grant eligibility. Keener cautioned that losing commercial service would jeopardize participation in FAA grants that fund about 95% of airport infrastructure maintenance, saying that outcome “would literally bankrupt the city” if commercial service were lost.
On the federal grant, staff recommended acceptance of a SCASD award and explained that the U.S. DOT required timely execution; the city manager signed the grant acceptance on April 29 to meet the DOT's deadline and sought council ratification. Airport staff reported they negotiated wording changes with DOT counsel and felt comfortable certifying the award. Council voted to accept the grant and to ratify the manager’s prior signature.
Airport staff said early data show modest midday flight loads (roughly 20–30 passengers on recent turns), and that ridership may rise with additional marketing. Officials also said they expect the SCASD revenue guarantee and continued FAN support to reduce the MRG over time as service stabilizes.
The council’s actions mean the city will remain a FAN member at the $500,000 level for the coming fiscal year and will proceed with the federal grant program designed to underwrite a second daily flight. Staff signaled next steps include grant execution, continued outreach to private partners, and tracking passenger loads as marketing ramps up.
