On the evening of June 7 United Airlines began nonstop service from SLO, known as SBP in airline parlance, and Denver, Colo. (DEN).
It’s the culmination, said Phil D’Acri, the SLO Regional Airport’s Business Development Manager, of over a decade of talks with United and efforts to connect SLO to a larger hub.
“It’s been forever really,” said D’Acri who clarified that, unlike a previous arrangement with Alaska Airlines to connect the Central Coast to Seattle, Wash., there was no revenue guarantee pledged to United to seal the deal.
They will, however, be aggressively marketing the flights with a reserved budget, and both the recently rebranded organization “Visit SLO CAL” and the Economic Vitality Corporation (EVC) are pushing more than business and commuter ties. It’s the longest non-stop flight the airport offers now, the first to cross the continental divide and at nearly $500 a ticket, still a cheap vacation option.
At a 6 p.m. meet-n-greet held just before the first plane from Denver arrived, the SLO Wine Country and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance served vintages from Paso and the Edna Valley, while representatives from Visit SLO CAL also poured beers from Longmont, Colo.-based Left Handed Brewing. The winner of a blind tasting contest even got free tickets on the new route. Of course there’s more to do in the respective regions than exchange alcoholic beverages. SLO residents recently deprived of their usual ski vacations in the drought stricken Sierra Nevada range took to Facebook plan next year in the Rockies.
SLO County District Three Supervisor Adam Hill was not among those making such an itinerary, but he did focus on the “big picture” singling out airport staff and SLO County’s Director of Airports Kevin Bumen for praise in particular for in essence running two at once over the last year.
Assistant Airports Director Craig Piper confirmed that they’re still on track for a Sept.-Oct. 2017 completion of the new $39 million terminal building. Not only are they making arrangements for future logistics on the site, they’re still maintaining service at a, now busier and aging, existing complex. Operating out of “temporary” office modules outside the current terminal for more than 15 years, staff is also looking forward to getting some room inside their own terminal.
United Airlines spokesperson, Michael Burny could not say whether construction of the new facility, which is inspired architecturally to reflect the region’s wineries, played any part in the airline’s decision, but it won’t hurt the marketing of the route.
“The first flight heading out tomorrow is full already, and we’re just very happy so far,” he said.
– Story and Photos by Camas Frank
