After a six-year hiatus, direct flights from Regina to Minneapolis have resumed, much to the delight of passengers. The inaugural flight departed Regina’s International Airport on Sunday morning, with many passengers expressing their excitement about the convenience of avoiding connections through Canadian airports.
For business travelers like Dean Person, the cost savings associated with flying through an American hub are significant. Person, who travels frequently for work, has consistently found that flying through American hubs is more economical than connecting through Canadian airports.
Passenger Travis Ferstl, who was traveling to Texas, emphasized the time-saving benefits of the direct flight to Minneapolis. Ferstl stated, “You don’t want to be stuck in an airport for 5, 6, 7 hours, and in cases like this, it cuts down on that layover time. It gets you to your destination quicker so you can recover quicker and be ready for work the next day.”
YQR Airport officials have prioritized the reestablishment of direct hub flights since their cancellation in 2016. Justin Reeves, the airport’s director of revenue development and public relations, highlighted the importance of passenger usage for the continued success of the flights. Reeves emphasized, “It’s important that we do have people use this flight because we want it to be successful and that speaks volumes both to WestJet and to other American airlines, that we continue to talk to about the viability of service here in Regina.”
The resumption of direct flights to Minneapolis from Regina complements similar offerings from Saskatoon International Airport, providing Saskatchewan residents with convenient access to a major American hub.
