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CEDAR CITY, Utah (AP) -- Eight passengers took a 40-minute flight from Cedar City to Las Vegas, marking the start of Mesa Airlines' federally subsidized air service to Cedar City.
Moments after the flight landed at McCarran International Airport, passenger Gloria Brenay of St. George said, "They're going to be very successful. It's going to be so big that they're going to bring bigger planes and more flights to Cedar City."
Mesa offered to serve Cedar City for a subsidy of $897,535 per year, while SkyWest, which had served the community for 34 years, had asked for $1,602,912 a year.
Mesa offers round-trip service to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
The Beechcraft 1900D turboprop airplanes used by Mesa seat 19 passengers. They do not have lavatories, overhead storage bins or flight attendants.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
