Low-cost Redmond-Las Vegas flights return this fall

(Update: Adding which plane to be used, airport incentive package, other added flights)

Seven years after low-cost Allegiant Air quit its 5-year-old Redmond-to-Las Vegas flights, a new budget flight entry, Sun Country Airlines, will bring twice-a-week nonstop flights between the two cities for three months this fall, Redmond Airport officials announced Monday.

Beginning Sept. 5, Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM) will welcome the new carrier, adding two seasonal weekly nonstop flights to Las Vegas via McCarran International Airport (LAS).

The new Las Vegas flights will become the region’s only direct commercial routes to Las Vegas, with fares as low as $69* one way. Flights are on sale now at suncountry.com.

RDM and the Central Oregon Air Service Team (COAST) said they “are pleased to welcome Sun Country Airlines to Central Oregon and hope the public will support the new airline.”

“We are elated to have direct air service to Las Vegas return to Redmond,” said Mayor George Endicott. “COAST and the Airport team have worked diligently to attract direct service to LAS, as it’s our No. 1 customer request and a high-use market from Central Oregon.”

Running from Sept. 5 through Dec. 15, the weekly Sun Country flights to Las Vegas will depart from RDM on Thursdays and Sundays at 2:55 p.m., arriving LAS at 4:40 p.m. The return flights will depart from LAS on Thursdays and Sundays at 12:05 p.m., arriving RDM at 1:55 p.m.

“We’re excited to provide new low-cost air service to Redmond residents and to connect them to the entertainment capital of the world,” said Sun Country Chief Commercial Officer Ted Botimer. “Our focus on low fares and excellent customer service will be a great fit in this market, and we look forward to our continued partnership with Redmond Municipal Airport.”

Sun Country Airlines operates a total of 95 routes across 54 airports and “has earned a reputation for providing world-class service at an affordable price,” the airport’s announcement said.

Airport Director Zachary Bass said the RDM-LAS flights will use Boeing 737-800 jets that have 150 to 180 seats, depending upon the configuration.

Bass said he recently met with Sun Country officials at an air service conference in Phoenix. The alrine will receive RDM’s incentive package, modified for the non-daily, seasonal service to include $25,000 in local marketing help and a landing fees waiver for up to six months.

Sun Country first added new routes beyond its home base of Minneapolis/St. Paul in June 2018, bringing on service from Dallas-Fort Worth, Madison, Wisconsin, Portland, Oregon and St. Louis, which brought the network at the time from 53 to 64 nonstop routes.

Nashville, Tennessee was added in August 2018, Providence, Rhode Island in January 2019, and the airline now operates a total of 95 routes across 54 airports, which marks a more than 80 percent growth in routes since June 2018.

Redmond was one of six new seasonal routes Sun Country added to its fall schedule in Monday’s announcement, along with Providence, Rhode Island, St. Louis and San Antonio, as well as Portland-San Diego and Providence-New Orleans flights.

For more information and reservations, visit the Sun Country Airlines website at https://www.suncountry.com/booking/search.html or the RDM Airport website at www.flyrdm.com.

*Fares are limited and not available on all flights, days and times. Purchase by April 15, 2019. Schedules and fares are subject to change. Additional restrictions may apply. See terms and conditions at suncountry.com.