Airport Works Toward Solutions

Yellowstone Regional Airport has been working to make flying in and out of Cody as easy as possible. In the winter, though, bad weather can cause flight delays. I spent some time with Aaron Buck, the airport director, to learn and better understand the issues and how they are working to find solutions. There are many complex issues at hand, and they are actively working on all of them.

Planes Diverted

Everyone loves an easy and uneventful flight. And luckily, over 90% of flights each month come and go from Cody without a problem. Since November 2024, we have had only seven days where weather caused a diversion or delay. But it’s hard to look at the larger picture when that delay happens to you. So, what exactly stops planes from landing here?

Understanding Approaches to the Runway

You can land from one of two directions with the runway in Cody. The “4-approach” has you pointing northeast and is used most often in good weather when the winds come from the south. The “22-approach” has you pointing southwest and is used when the winds come from the north – often seen with storms coming in.

When storms move in, the level of the clouds often drops below the 800-foot “ceiling” (bottom level of the clouds), obscuring the visibility needed for 2.5 miles when approaching the airport runway. If the ceiling is too low, the planes aren’t allowed to leave from Denver.

A Better Approach

YRA is researching how to improve their approach pattern so that it meets FAA Requirements with a lower ceiling between 300 and 500 feet, which would improve aircraft reliability during inclement weather.

The YRA board is considering hiring a consultant who has successfully worked with other airports to lower the ceiling level, allowing them to land during bad weather. Their knowledge of how to make the approaches meet FAA requirements may be worth the money if it makes the Cody airport function better for everyone.

Larger Planes and Better Technology

When landing in Cody, the size of the plane matters. Currently, most of the planes in and out of Cody are CRJ200s. Unfortunately, this aircraft does not have the technology for satellite GPS in the cockpit. Satellite GPS is one solution YRA is exploring to lower the clearance ceiling from the FAA.

In 2024, SkyWest replaced CommuteAir as YRA’s dedicated commercial airline. Good news, SkyWest is not only a United commuter but also services three other airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and Delta.

SkyWest has sent a larger plane, the E175 when available to expediate passenger loads inhibited by unexpected delays. E175s hold more passengers and have better technology (satellite GPS) and a stronger thrust ratio that allows them to land more often in poor weather conditions. So, if you’ve come in or flown out on a larger plane with first-class seats, you can thank SkyWest for the opportunity to fly on an E175.

SkyWest has ordered more E175s, but from the airline’s perspective, they see a possible financial risk of bringing these larger planes to Cody more often. Would we still fill the seats on each flight as well as we currently do?

Bringing in Another Airline

YRA is actively seeking a second carrier with a hub west of Cody, possibly Delta or another airline. Two carriers should create market competition and lower ticket prices. Getting SkyWest back was the first and most important step in the process.

Our community needs to show the commercial airlines that we can fill seats and that adding Cody as a destination is worthwhile. Airline loads (percent of seats booked) of 80-85% is the major factor in this equation. YRA’s 2024 airline loads strongly performed at totaled 82%.

Currently, Cody is attractive to commercial carriers because we are in the top five in the nation for pricing. Higher ticket prices are attractive for airlines and not so much for the air traveling public. Recognizing more competition lowers those prices, the objective is to reach a win-win situation for the commercial carrier and for airline travelers.

Airlines also have a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG). This money is collateral for the airline that adds a new route or destination. In the past, Senator Hank Coe spoiled the Cody community by consistently and successfully fundraising to maintain MRG reserves for our local airport. Coe’s vision led to establishing the CYAIR Board, the airport’s fundraising arm.

CYAIR is a Crucial Piece of the Puzzle

FAA regulations prohibit airports from funding MRGs. CYAIR’s organizational purpose is to be an advocate of the airport and lead the community forward in this endeavor. A community’s ability to raise funds for the MRG sends a strong positive message to the airline ultimately mitigating the risk of adding a new destinations and/or routes.

Park County Travel Council has set aside $100,000 of its budget to meet an MRG. Under the guidance of CYAIR, other stakeholders will be asked to contribute as well. Learn more about CYAIR at https://cyair.org.

Catch-22

Cody faces a Catch-22 situation on this issue. In order for the existing dedicated airline to utilize a larger aircraft or to attract a second commercial airline service to YRA, it is imperative that the statistics support these additions. So keep in mind, as an air traveler who utilizes Billings or Bozeman instead of our local airport that choice immediately factors negatively in the equation to add service and/or new route.

Agreed for travelers, it’s hard to swallow the higher prices for the convenience of flying in and out of Cody. When a flight is delayed or diverted, it is extra hard to justify using our local airport creating the Catch-22.

YRA is addressing this issue. A recently completed leakage study will be available soon. The compilation of this data will help YRA to glean helpful information such as identifying the percentage of people using other airports who could have flown out of Cody but didn’t as well as other pertinent aspects of this issue. Pinpointing reasons people seek other airports in the region will allow YRA to look at a possible way out of this Catch-22 situation.

In Conclusion

YRA continually troubleshoots improving online performance by mitigating airline delays and diversions within their control. Your local airport advocacy organization, CYAIR is on board actively seeking additional commercial airline service and another hub.

Understanding what steps have been taken, where we are right now, what you can do to help is imperative part of the process and will help our community achieve these goals earlier rather than later.

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