Joplin Regional Airport preparing for Chicago flight service

(From the City of Joplin)

Starting June 6, 2019 American Airlines begins flight service to Chicago from Joplin Regional Airport! Since the announcement at the beginning of this year, airport officials and staff have been working to upgrade facilities and equipment for the additional flights.

“Ticket sales have taken off since they became available,” said Steve Stockam, Manager of the Airport. “We’re thrilled to see this activity, and we’ve been busy expanding areas of the terminal to accommodate the new flights and addressing some of the staffing changes.”

With additional flights, American Airlines requested more office area within the terminal, so airport staff’s offices were relocated to accommodate the additional lease requirements.

Seating in the holding area was rearranged to provide passengers waiting to board with a more accommodating floorplan. Other changes were made for the Chicago service with new gate check equipment and upgrades for the second passenger boarding bridge.

With the additional flights, the safety and security responsibilities under the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require police and airport staff to be at their post for ten hour each day.

“We’ve been working closely with our Police Department to develop an efficient and responsible plan for this requirement,” said Stockam. “JPD will continue to help us with these needs initially, while I work with Chief (Matt) Stewart in creating our own Airport Police Unit. These Airport officers will have police training along with specific training for airport security. By doing this, the Airport will be staffed, and it won’t take officers from the Police Department. This will take a little time, so we appreciate the JPD’s assistance as we make this transition.”

Stockam noted that the past few months have been non-stop activity, and he expects this pace to continue.

“The Chicago service is something our business community has been asking about for a number of years,” he said. “We’re very pleased to have it and we appreciate the number of supporters we’ve seen these past few months. We also are seeing a good number of leisure travelers already booking their flights, so that is exciting as well.”

Stockam announced the flight schedule during a recent City Council meeting, noting that American has added a fourth flight to Dallas/Fort Worth for the summer, as they did last year.

The schedule includes CHICAGO flights departing from Joplin at 5:44 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. daily. Flights to Joplin arrive at 1:41 p.m. and 10:03 p.m.

The DALLAS/FORT WORTH schedule includes departures from Joplin at 6:10 a.m., 12:17 p.m. (except Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday), 4:19 p.m. and 6:18 p.m. Flights arriving to Joplin include 11:47 a.m. (except Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday), 3:54 p.m., 5:41 p.m. and 11:44 p.m.

For more information about the Joplin Regional Airport and its flight service, go to www.jlnairport.com . To book a flight, go to www.AA.com .

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