The Safford Regional Airport has become a critical connector for Graham County residents, allowing them to fly to Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport. But Safford airport officials say funding is needed to continue the service.
The airport began operating two daily round-trips to Phoenix in January, with $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation and additional funds from the city and Freeport-McMoRan.
But the airport had to cut back to just one daily round-trip and is now asking the city for more than $650,000, citing high costs.
Airport Manager Cameron Atkins spoke at a recent state transportation board meeting.
“Airline service not only connects rural communities to global markets by promoting tourism, it also promotes economic development, which we desperately need in the majority of Arizona's small communities," he said.
Atkins said other locations in Arizona lack this program.
“Most of our airports around the perimeter of the state do not have air service. And there's currently no state leadership to centralize air service development efforts," he said.
Atkins says a group of communities, including Sedona and Kingman, is working to further develop rural airport service.
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