(Lewiston, ID) The addition of new Delta Air Lines service from Lewiston to Seattle – Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in October 2023, complementing existing flights to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and daily service on United Airlines to Denver International Airport (DEN), has allowed for airfares to decline at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport 18% from that recorded by the Bureau of Transportation statistics for Calendar Year 2023 from an average fare of $298 to $243 each way.
On a relative basis, Lewiston’s one-way airfares were 33% higher than the national average in 2021. For the first quarter of 2024, they are 12% lower than the national average – – a 45-percentage point swing estimated to save travelers $6 million annually.
“The corporate community has responded well to having service to three major connecting hubs,” said Isaacs. Between United Airlines at DEN and Delta Air Lines at SEA and SLC, xx flights to yy destinations, including ZZ international cities.
Given three-hub connecting airline service, Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines was able to fly a record number of cruise passengers into LWS this season—8,300 inbound customers with over 4,000 hotel rooms booked in the area, according to Bret Bullock, Director of Guest Experience with American Cruise Lines.
Mike Isaacs, the airport director at LWS, said, “A strong resurgence in commercial airline passengers would not have been possible without the vision and commitment from airport sponsors, the City of Lewiston, and Nez Perce County.”
United Airlines was attracted using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds through Nez Perce County and subsequent general surplus funding from the City of Lewiston through a Minimum Revenue Guarantee.
