WATERLOO — Winning out over a competing proposal, American Airlines will continue to offer flights between Waterloo and Chicago through 2024 — twice-daily six days a week and once on Saturday.
American Airlines — operating as its regional airline affiliate, American Eagle — will provide 13 weekly roundtrip flights between Waterloo Regional Airport and Chicago O’Hare.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, was reached between the airline and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Analysis, and was welcome news to airport Director Keith Kaspari.
“Thankfully, the DOT stepped up and provided that continuation of service,” Kaspari told the airport commission during its monthly meeting Wednesday.
The new flight schedule will begin May 1, according to Kaspari. Currently, the airline provides twice-daily flights seven days a week. Kaspari is hopeful AA might provide “an improved schedule” of early morning and early afternoon departures from Waterloo as it had done previously instead of two afternoon departures as it has now.
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“That was a critical morning departure that everybody seemed to like,” Kaspari said, noting it allowed people more connection options in Chicago.