Vernal Regional Airport

Last updated
Vernal Regional Airport

Vernal - Uintah County Airport
Vernal Regional Airport.jpg
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner Uintah County & Vernal City
Serves Vernal, Utah
Elevation  AMSL 5,274 ft / 1,608 m
Coordinates 40°26′27″N109°30′36″W / 40.44083°N 109.51000°W / 40.44083; -109.51000
Website VEL Website
Map
USA Utah relief location map.svg
Airplane silhouette.svg
VEL
Location of airport in Utah
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Airplane silhouette.svg
VEL
VEL (the United States)
Runways
Direction LengthSurface
ftm
17/357,0002,134Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Aircraft operations8,600
Based aircraft30

Vernal Regional Airport( IATA : VEL, ICAO : KVEL, FAA LID : VEL) is a mile southeast of Vernal, in Uintah County, Utah. It is owned by the city and county [1] and sees one airline, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

Contents

Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 5,474 passenger boardings (enplanements) in calendar year 2008, [2] 3,805 in 2009 and 4,461 in 2010. [3] The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a non-primary commercial service airport (between 2,500 and 10,000 enplanements per year). [4]

History

The original Frontier Airlines (1950-1986) served Vernal for over 30 years. In 1950 Frontier Douglas DC-3s flew nonstop to Salt Lake City and Rock Springs and direct to Denver, Billings, Casper, Laramie and Cheyenne. [5] By 1967 Frontier Convair 580s flew nonstop to Salt Lake City and direct to Denver. [6] Frontier then flew a Convair 580 Salt Lake City-Vernal-Moab-Grand Junction-Farmington-Gallup-Albuquerque-Silver City-Tucson-Phoenix. [6] Frontier served Vernal until the early 1980s with Convair 580s nonstop to Salt Lake City and direct to Denver; [7] [8] Frontier left Vernal by 1982. [9] Prior to Frontier's service, a Challenger Airlines 1948 route map depicted Vernal as a proposed destination with service to Salt Lake City. In 1950, Challenger merged with Arizona Airways and Monarch Airlines to form Frontier Airlines which began service that year to Vernal.

A number of commuter airlines served Vernal. In 1979 Transwestern Airlines was competing with Frontier on the Salt Lake City route with Piper Aircraft. [10] Salmon Air flew nonstop to Salt Lake City at one point. [11] By 1983, Air Link Airlines was operating direct, one stop flights to Denver via Hayden, CO or Rock Springs, WY with Swearingen Metroliners. [12] In 1985, SkyWest Airlines Swearingen Metroliners flew nonstop to Salt Lake City as an independent airline. [13] By 1987, SkyWest was flying Metroliners nonstop to SLC as Western Express via a code share agreement with Western Airlines. [14] In 1989 SkyWest had become a Delta Connection air carrier operating code share service for Delta Air Lines flying nonstop Metroliners to Salt Lake City. [15] Air Midwest, a subsidiary of Mesa Airlines which flew to Vernal as America West Express, commenced nonstop flights to Salt Lake City International Airport on July 2, 2006. [16] In January 2008 Great Lakes Aviation replaced Air Midwest and began flying Beechcraft 1900Ds to Denver and on December 5, 2011, Great Lakes began service to Canyonlands Field in Moab, Utah as an extension of its Denver service. [17] However, Great Lakes Airlines subsequently ended its flights to Denver and ceased all service to Vernal.

Facilities

The airport covers 393 acres (159 ha) at an elevation of 5,274 feet (1,608 m). It has one asphalt runway: 17/35 is 7,000 by 100 feet (2,134 x 30 m). [1]

In the year ending December 31, 2018, the airport had 8,600 aircraft operations, average 24 per day: 76% general aviation, 23% air taxi, and 1% military. 30 aircraft were then based at the airport: 27 single-engine, 1 multi-engine, 1 jet, and 1 helicopter. [1]

Airline and destination

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Contour Airlines Charter: Phoenix–Sky Harbor [18]
Redtail Air Adventures Salt Lake City [18]

United Express service was operated by SkyWest Airlines via a code sharing agreement with United Airlines flying with the Canadair CRJ-200 regional jets. Service was replaced by Contour Airlines with service to Phoenix beginning February 1, 2024, and twice-weekly flights to Salt Lake City provided by Redtail Air Adventure started October 31, 2023. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugene Airport</span> Airport in near Eugene, Oregon

Eugene Airport, also known as Mahlon Sweet Field, is a public airport 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Eugene, in Lane County, Oregon, United States. Owned and operated by the City of Eugene, it is the fifth-largest airport in the Pacific Northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corpus Christi International Airport</span> Airport in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States

Corpus Christi International Airport is 6 miles west of Corpus Christi, in Nueces County, Texas. It opened in 1960, replacing Cliff Maus airport at 27.767°N 97.44°W, where the Lozano Golf Center is now located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billings Logan International Airport</span> Public airport in Billings, Montana, United States

Billings Logan International Airport is in the western United States, two miles northwest of downtown Billings, in Yellowstone County, Montana. It is the fourth largest airport in Montana, having been surpassed in recent years by Bozeman, Missoula, and Flathead County (Kalispell) in both number of gates as well as annual enplanements. Owned by the city of Billings, the airport is on top of the Rims, a 500-foot (150 m) cliff overlooking the downtown core, and covers 2,500 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterloo Regional Airport</span> Airport

Waterloo Regional Airport ( Livingston Betsworth Field) is four miles (6 km) northwest of Waterloo, in Black Hawk County, Iowa. It is used for general aviation and sees one airline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Pounds Regional Airport</span> Airport

Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located 3 mi (4.8 km) west of Tyler, in Smith County, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial County Airport</span> Municipal airport in Imperial, California, United States

Imperial County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Imperial County, California, United States. Also known as Boley Field, it is mostly used for general aviation, but has scheduled passenger service from one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elko Regional Airport</span> Airport

Elko Regional Airport, formerly Elko Municipal Airport, is a mile west of downtown Elko, in Elko County, Nevada, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Wyoming Regional Airport</span> Airport

Central Wyoming Regional Airport, formerly Riverton Regional Airport, is three miles northwest of Riverton, in Fremont County, Wyoming; it also serves nearby Lander, Wyoming. It is used for general aviation and sees one passenger airline. Service was subsidized by the Essential Air Service program until October 2006, when Great Lakes Airlines began providing subsidy-free service. Key Lime Air operating as the Denver Air Connection began serving the airport with regional jet aircraft on July 1, 2016.

Sheridan County Airport is in Sheridan County, Wyoming, two miles southwest of Sheridan, Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Regional Airport</span> Airport

Pierre Regional Airport is a public airport three miles east of Pierre, in Hughes County, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idaho Falls Regional Airport</span> Airport serving Idaho Falls, Idaho

Idaho Falls Regional Airport is two miles north-northwest of downtown Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States. It is locally known as Fanning Field. It is the second-busiest airport in Idaho after Boise Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Page Municipal Airport</span> Airport in Coconino County, Arizona

Page Municipal Airport is a public use airport 1 mile east of Page, in Coconino County, Arizona. The airport has scheduled passenger service subsidized by the U.S. Federal Government's Essential Air Service program as well as regular sightseeing flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Junction Regional Airport</span> Airport in Grand Junction, Colorado

Grand Junction Regional Airport is three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Grand Junction, in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Owned by the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority, it is the largest airport in western Colorado and third largest in the state, behind Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Smith Regional Airport</span> Public airport in Fort Smith, Arkansas, US

Fort Smith Regional Airport is a public use airport located near the Interstate 540 freeway three nautical miles (6 km) southeast of the central business district of Fort Smith, in Sebastian County, Arkansas, United States. FSM is governed by the Fort Smith Airport Commission as established by the City of Fort Smith, Arkansas. It serves the transportation needs of residents and businesses of western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. FSM is currently served by American Eagle, the regional airline affiliate of American Airlines. It has a large population of corporate and general aviation aircraft. A full-service fixed-base operator (FBO), Signature Flight Support, provides service to general aviation, airline, and military operators.

Memorial Field Airport is located in City of Hot Springs, in Garland County, Arkansas, United States, 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of Downtown Hot Springs. It serves nearby Hot Springs National Park. The airport is used for general aviation; airline flights are subsidized by the federal government's Essential Air Service program at a cost of $1,637,012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juneau International Airport</span> International airport serving Juneau, Alaska, United States

Juneau International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport and seaplane base located seven nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Juneau, a city and borough in the U.S. state of Alaska that has no direct road access to the outside world. The airport serves as a regional hub for all air travel, from bush carriers to major U.S. air carriers such as Alaska Airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Angelo Regional Airport</span> Airport in San Angelo, Texas, United States

San Angelo Regional Airport, serves San Angelo in Tom Green County, Texas, United States. The airport covers 1,517 acres (614 ha) and has three runways. It has free parking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abilene Regional Airport</span> Airport

Abilene Regional Airport is a public airport located approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) southeast of downtown Abilene, in Taylor County, Texas. The airport is located within the Abilene city limits, and is and owned and operated by the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canyonlands Regional Airport</span> Regional airstrip near Moab, Utah, United States

Canyonlands Regional Airport, Moab is a regional commercial airport in Grand County, Utah, United States, 21 miles (34 km) northwest of Moab. The airport services two airlines, one subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mammoth Yosemite Airport</span> Regional airport in Mono County, California

Mammoth Yosemite Airport is a town-owned public airport seven miles east of Mammoth Lakes, in Mono County, California, United States. Also known as Mammoth Lakes Airport or Mammoth–June Lake Airport, it is mainly used for general aviation, but has scheduled passenger flights operated by one airline which primarily serves the airport on a seasonal basis during the winter ski season. Additional scheduled passenger service for the Mammoth area is seasonally available at the nearby Eastern Sierra Regional Airport located in Bishop, CA.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 FAA Airport Form 5010 for VEL PDF . Federal Aviation Administration. Effective September 7, 2023.
  2. "Enplanements for CY 2008" (PDF, 1.0 MB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. December 18, 2009.
  3. "Enplanements for CY 2010" (PDF, 189 KB). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2011.
  4. "2011–2015 NPIAS Report, Appendix A" (PDF). faa.gov. Federal Aviation Administration. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF, 2.03 MB) on September 27, 2012.
  5. http://www.timetableimages.com, Nov. 1, 1950 Frontier timetable
  6. 1 2 http://www.timetableimages.com, Oct. 29, 1967 Frontier timetable
  7. http://www.departedflights.com, March 2, 1977 Frontier timetable
  8. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 1, 1981 Frontier Airlines route map
  9. http://www.departedflights.com, May 1, 1982 Frontier route map
  10. http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide
  11. http://www.go-utah/salmon-air/%5B%5D
  12. http://www.timetableimages.com, April 1, 1983 Air Link timetable
  13. http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 15, 1985 Official Airline Guide
  14. http://www.departedflights.com, March 1, 1987 Western timetable
  15. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide
  16. Mesa Air Group Announces Schedule and Fares for Vernal, Utah (May 22, 2006)
  17. "Great Lakes Aviation lands Vernal airport contract". Vernal Express. October 10, 2007.
  18. 1 2 3 Fisher, Sophia (October 26, 2023). "Feds finally approve new air service". The Times-Independent. Moab, Utah . Retrieved October 28, 2023.