January 2022
SUN AIR SERVICE NEWS
SUN FLIGHT RELIABILITY REMAINS STRONG DESPITE WINTER STORMS

While the Wood River Valley got hammered with several major snowstorms in December, including over the busy holiday period, most of the flights made it successfully into and out of SUN. A big win for SUN reliability!


"SUN Airport Manager Chris Pomeroy said the new technology—the culmination of a two-year partnership with SkyWest Airlines and Flight Tech Engineering—“saved” over 50 Delta and United flights from cancellation or diversion just last month, a remarkable achievement for the new approach procedure implemented last year at SUN." (Idaho Mountain Express)

Alaska Airlines has had its proprietary RNP approach system in place for the past four years at SUN, which has provided the airline with over 95% flight reliability at SUN during the winter season.

Some SUN flights were cancelled in December, primarily due to weather conditions in other cities, as well as Covid-19 impacts on airline staffing and operations. Thousands of flights have been cancelled nationwide for these same reasons.
 
SUN WINTER 2021/22 SCHEDULE - UPDATE

While the ongoing pandemic continues to affect air service, including a modest reduction in Delta SLC flights at SUN for February through mid-April, we are fortunate to maintain strong capacity at SUN with nonstop service to six (6) destinations for the winter season. Updated flight schedule below.

These are the enhancements to our service this winter:
NEW! United DEN (Denver) flights: more frequency in winter
NEW! United ORD (Chicago) flights; 2x week in Jan/Feb, daily in March
NEW! two additional United LAX flights on March 31 & April 3
THANK YOU BUSINESS AIR SUPPORTERS!
Special thanks to these 185 local businesses and organizations who are supporting improved air service to SUN through these unique programs.
And BIG thanks to Sun Valley Resort for their air program partnership also.
SUN FLIGHT STATS
SUN PASSENGER TRAFFIC REBOUNDS in 2021

Overall, SUN air travel rebounded well in 2021, as travelers took back to the skies after a historically low year for air travel globally and locally in 2020 due the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, airlines added more capacity to resort leisure markets, including SUN, due to weak demand in business markets. Load factors at SUN improved dramatically in 2021 but did not quite rise to 2019 pre-pandemic level.

Advance bookings to date for the winter season look solid as we continue to closely monitor booking patterns and trends for the months ahead.
WINTER DIVERSION BUSING: AVAILABLE IF NEEDED
SUN DIVERSION BUSING SERVICE RUNS THRU APRIL 15
While we expect fewer weather-related flight diversions again this winter due to the new landing approach procedure in place at SUN, there will still be times when flights can't land and busing is needed. This diversion busing service, provided by the airlines and airport, will continue to be offered with COVID-19 protocols in effect for passenger health and safety. DETAILS HERE
SUN AIRPORT NEWS

PLAN AHEAD FOR SUN SPRING AIRPORT CLOSURE

If you are making plans to travel to/from Sun Valley this spring (April 18-May 17) during the period the SUN airport will be closed, we wanted to make sure you were aware of your other nearby airport options:

Twin Falls (TWF) - 90 miles south of SUN.
Offering 2 daily Delta SLC flights for most of this period.

Boise (BOI) - 250 miles southwest of SUN.
Offering up to 83 daily flights to 23 cities on multiple airlines.
TRAVEL RULES for AIR TRAVELER HEALTH & SAFETY
Increased personal health safety in this era of COVID-19 is important to both airlines and air travelers.
 
Masks Still Required on Planes, at Airports
Federal law requires passengers to wear a mask when traveling, including travel by commercial air. All SUN airlines, United, Delta and Alaska, require face masks for all passengers, crew and employees. TSA requires all passengers in line for screening wear a mask and masks required for anyone in the SUN passenger terminal area. 
 
COVID-19 Airline Updates:  Alaska     Delta   United    
 

 
FLY SUN VALLEY ALLIANCE 
Non-profit organization with a mission:
Improve Air Service to SUN