RDM-PHX nonstop flights: Cheap or pricey? It depends
How spendy will the new American Airlines non-stop daily flights from Redmond Municipal Airport to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport that start June 2 be? As with most air travel, it depends — a lot — on when you’re going and how long you’ll be staying..
Airport officials announced the flights Friday, saying they’ll start June 2. And the fares entered the airline’s reservation system on Sunday, surprising many with how spendy they appeared to be.
The flights became available at http://www.aa.com on Sunday. A check of the online reservation system that day found the RDM-PHX round-trip flight costs ranging from $777 to $1,202 for a three-day visit in early June.
Others reported finding fares as low as $400 round-trip in July or later in the year.
But stay for six days — over a weekend, and return June 8 — and the round-trip flight cost drops to just $312, a much less headache-inducing cost and comparable to other options.
The new non-stop flights will depart daily from RDM at 12:01 P.M., arriving in PHX at 2:20 P.M. Departures to RDM will leave PHX at 8:15 P.M., arriving in RDM at 10:20 P.M.
American will use a Bombardier CRJ-700 series aircraft, which accommodates up to 67 passengers. Of those, nine are reclining, first-class seats.
The American Eagle-emblazoned plane will be operated by SkyWest, which also operates United and Delta flights from RDM.
For customers connecting in PHX, American Airlines offers more than 300 daily flights to more than 81 destinations in 4 countries.
“This will be a valuable route for Central Oregonians. The greater Phoenix area has grown to be the sixth-largest metro in the country,” Lee said in Friday’s announcement.
Alana Hughson, CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association, commented, “Phoenix was the No. 1 ‘new market’ for air service development, due to its potential for both business development and tourism.”
Last summer, RDM was awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to attract commercial air service between RDM and PHX. The grant is designated to serve as a revenue guarantee and marketing of the new air service route.
RDM was one of 49 communities competing for the grant. Only 11 applicants were awarded the USDOT Small Community Air Service Development Program grant.
With the assistance of the Airport’s airline consultant, Mead & Hunt, and the Central Oregon Air Service Team (COAST) this opportunity was presented to and accepted by American Airlines.
The grant required local officials to raise a matching $100,000 from local governments and organizations.
The Redmond Municipal Airport (Roberts Field – RDM) is the aviation gateway to Central Oregon. Owned and operated by the City of Redmond, the airport offers a full range of general and commercial aviation services. RDM is served by four air carriers; Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United with 15 daily direct flights to Denver, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. For more information please visit us online at www.flyrdm.com
