by Tyler Brown, CM Texarkana Regional Airport Real Estate Manager
TXK TO IAH
On February 13, 2022, United Airlines (UAL) Flight 4847 touched down in Texarkana, carrying the inaugural load of passengers from Houston, Texas. Texarkana Regional Airport (TXK) officials are ecstatic about the newest air service at the airport in over 14 years and the ability to better connect the Texarkana community to the world. With the new route, UAL will bridge Texarkana to another large metropolis, and to 13 new domestic and six new international routes not previously served with the airport’s existing American Airlines service. The new route will also be servicing Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), which is another UAL hub and has connecting flight options across the globe. This new, exciting development began on July 13, 2021, when it was announced TXK was one of twenty-two airports in the nation to receive a Small Community Air Service Development Grant from the United States Department of Transportation. Soon after the announcement, TXK and United Airlines began discussing the beginning of air service between TXK and IAH. Receiving this grant allows small communities, such as Texarkana, to attract and retain commercial air service by providing funds for start-up operational costs. The funds will subsidize costs for UAL while they build their customer base for the new route. By the time the funds run out, the intent is for UAL to have enough enplanements (passengers originating from Texarkana) to be self-sustaining. United Airlines has made a one-year air service agreement with the airport, which is essentially a trial period to determine their longevity at TXK. If a sufficient passenger load during the first year is reached, TXK is confident UAL will remain at the airport for the long run. UAL executives want this new relationship to flourish just as much as anyone, and they have even indicated the potential introduction of new routes if the Houston service is successful. The ability to purchase an airline ticket and fly to just about anywhere in the world from Texarkana is an expectation of air travelers in the region. The dedicated airport board of directors and a team of aviation professionals at TXK are working every day to ensure that air service is strong, growing and that the airport is poised and ready for future generations’ air service needs.
Further, as the Texarkana area grows substantially, airport officials understand the need to remain an economic staple for the region by acting as a driver for attracting investment, generating employment and providing mobility for citizens and businesses. In turn, when the community uses their local airport, it enhances the impact TXK can have in those areas. “We are ecstatic to officially add Houston to our route network and provide more travel options for our community. Houston is a familiar, unique and exciting destination for local residents to enjoy, and we are confident our community will support this new route in a way that will ensure its long-term success,” said Paul Mehrlich, Executive Director of Aviation for the Texarkana Regional Airport Authority. “We appreciate the new relationship with United Airlines and their commitment to helping grow Texarkana. As our lives return to normal, we feel this new destination will greatly benefit the area and connect our community to what’s important in their lives in Houston and beyond.” Whether it is through work, education or family, it has long been known that Texarkana community members have many ties to Houston. TXK officials are calling on the Texarkana community to support UAL as they begin their relationship with the airport and make them the preferred airline for any upcoming travel. The importance of keeping this new air service cannot be expressed enough. Having more air travel options at TXK will create competitive pricing and will accelerate Texarkana on its road to prosperity and growth. The flight schedule between TXK and IAH will operate once daily on a 50-seat Embraer ERJ-145XR aircraft and will depart TXK at approximately 7:15 AM and return at approximately 7:35 PM. This schedule allows individuals to arrive in Houston early enough to access plenty of connecting flights, as well as business individuals to conduct a full workday in Houston and make it back to Texarkana by the evening. Tickets are available now and passengers can book their flights by visiting www.united.com and typing in “TXK” in the “From” or “To” field.
32 | Texarkana Community Directory | Spring 2022
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