Travelers should use bargain fares

Now that Mesa Air Group Inc. and its subsidiary Air Midwest Inc., has received the nod to provide flights out of McCook Regional Airport, it's time to find out just how many people are willing to use them when they get the chance.

Thursday, it was announced that the Nebraska Department of Transportation had chosen Mesa to provide two one-stop round trips each weekday and weekend to Omaha and Kansas City.

Generating the most excitement are the one way fares to initially be offered, $49 one way to Omaha and $59 to Kansas City.

While many of us have gotten used to Great Lakes' service to Denver, east bound air travel has its advantages as well, such as links to Southwest Airlines.

Not of small consideration, however, is the half million dollars in savings due to Mesa's bid of $2,296,462 a year to serve both Grand Island and McCook.

It's also interesting that flights and crews will overnight in McCook, offering an economic boost in fuel sales and crew lodging.

The two contracts start as soon after July 1 as the airline can begin local operations.

While there's no guarantee how long the bargain-basement fares will last, it's time for the public to take advantage and prove just how good a stop McCook can prove to be to the airline.

With the price of gasoline and time figured in, it would be foolish not to look into the price of a ticket before next weekend's trip.