(Bemidji) Airport serves a wide region (newspaper article)
Dan Hoehn
By Molly Miron
June 29, 2008
With 30,000 enplanements annually, the Bemidji Regional Airport is a
vital factor in Bemidji as a transportation hub.
“It’s the area airport,” said Ron Otterstad, a Beltrami County
commissioner, vice chairman of the Airport Board and frequent business
and pleasure flyer out of Bemidji. The Airport Board chairman is
Marshall Froyd. “Our enplanement area goes from Deer River to Fosston
to Park Rapids/ Walker to Baudette.”
And for activity, Bemidji Regional Airport is the fourth busiest in
Minnesota behind Minneapolis, Rochester and Duluth. The other regional
airports are Brainerd, St. Cloud, Thief River Falls and International
Falls.
Otterstad said Airport Board members coach area communities promoting
economic development to answer in the affirmative when asked if they
have commercial air service. He said they should say: “Yes, we have
commercial air service. It’s in Bemidji.”
Otterstad said that in addition to the passenger service, Bemidji
Regional Airport is also a hub for cargo and corporate travel. FedEx,
USP and Bemidji Aviation all use the airport for freight delivery.
Because parking is free at the Bemidji Regional Airport, it pays
travelers who will be away for an extended period to fly out of
Bemidji rather than pay $30 per day for parking at the Twin Cities
airport. People who have business engagements around the country can
take the early plane from Bemidji and make connections to arrive in
almost any city nationwide by midday, Otterstad said. Also business
travelers with meetings in the Twin Cities find it more economical in
time and expense to fly to Minneapolis, take care of business and
return the same day.
Otterstad said the Bemidji area has attracted people who could choose
to live anywhere because they like the Northwoods, and the
transportation is available.