Direct Flights Between Cody and Chicago Begin May 22

If Cody feels a bit small at times, concerts, baseball games, museums, Michelin Star restaurants, and deep dish pizza will soon be a 3-hour flight away. This summer, the direct flight to Chicago returns to Cody. Starting May 22. The flights arrive in Cody on Fridays and will depart back to Chicago on Saturdays through September 19.

Yellowstone Regional Airport (YRA) and Cody Yellowstone Air Improvement Resources (CYAIR) have confirmed that the minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) agreement has been signed with United Airlines for 18 flights this summer.

“We are so pleased to have this direct flight back for Cody,” airport director Aaron Buck said. “Having a second direct-hub flight allows passengers to better reach our area with only one connection. This factors heavily into people’s travel plans.” The last time Cody enjoyed direct flights to Chicago was in 2021.

Celebrations

To celebrate the return of a Chicago flight, there will be a welcome party at the airport for the first direct flight landing from Chicago on Friday, May 22. More information on this will be posted on Cody Journal’s calendar.

The following morning, there will be a sendoff with a traditional water salute. Two fire engines will use their water canons to create two arches of water that the plane will taxi beneath. Buck commented, “This is a tremendously positive step forward for air service to Cody, and deserves a good start.”

Easier to Reach Cody from the East

The Chicago direct to Cody flight makes it much easier for visitors from the East and Europe to reach Cody and use it for their western vacation. The Friday arrival and Saturday departure are aimed at those wishing to stay for a full week or two.

Collaborative marketing efforts are underway with YRA, CYAIR, and Park County Travel Council (PCTC) working together on a marketing campaign. YRA has allocated funds to its marketing budget to promote this flight. Half of funds were added to collaborate with and enhance the PCTC marketing efforts for the flight. The other half went to promotional efforts created by Advanced Aviation, a company well experienced with advertising travel flights.

“Rather than fully work separately on the same promotion, we made the decision to work collaboratively to most effectively use the available funds and more closely align brand the advertising campaigns,” Buck said.

A Way to Show Other Airlines the Value of Adding Cody to Their Routes

With this flight, Delta and other airlines will be watching to see how it does and use it as a benchmark. This flight will use the same Embraer E175 plane, a 70-seat aircraft with first class and economy plus seating. Other airlines will watch to see if the market in Cody will support the upgraded first class and economy plus options for their possible expansion into the Cody market. So, if you find a reason to travel on the Chicago flight this summer, consider booking a first-class or business-plus seat, which will help with negotiations with Delta.

Easier for Cody to Reach the East

And, the direct flight can turn into a delightful getaway for Cody residents. Granted, that’s not an expense many are willing to pay, but perhaps a special occasion would warrant that. It would be easy enough to take a Tuesday or Wednesday flight to Chicago via Denver, spend a couple of days exploring the city and its restaurants, and return to Cody directly on Friday. Or utilize the flight the other way. Depart Cody on Saturday and return when desired via Denver.

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Keep up with what’s happening with the airport on their author page at Cody Journal.

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