City Of Chadron Approves Use Agreements For Southern Airways

On the day Southern Airways Express officially began operations at the Chadron Municipal Airport, the city council approved use agreements for airport property.

Leases for both the terminal space and most of the city’s 80×80 hangar received official approval Monday. Southern Airways will pay the city $400 per month for its portion of the airport terminal; the city will continue to be responsible for the common areas in the building. The hangar will be leased to the airline for $2,000 per month, with the city retaining a small part of the building for its use. Both leases are for two years.

Mayor Mark Werner visited the airport Monday and was pleased to learn that Southern Airways already had five sold-out flights in the upcoming week.

“Everything seemed to be working well,” he said.

Southern Airways took over from Boutique Air Monday after being awarded the EAS contract earlier this year.

According to the airline’s website, Southern Airways is offering two flights per day Sunday-Friday, at 7:40 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. The morning flight is offered on Saturdays.

Council members Cheryl Welch and Joe Johndreau also expressed optimism about the change and asked the community to welcome the new airline.

In another matter Monday, the council also approved a grant offer received from the Federal Aviation Administration for $13,000, which will be used to pay for the engineering study to construct a wildlife fence around the perimeter of the airport.