By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The current SkyWest passenger flight schedule at Hays Regional Airport produces a "nearly optimal" number of connecting flights at United Airlines' Denver hub.
Information presented last week by the city's longtime airport consultant, Gary Foss of The ArkStar Group, to Hays city commissioners was a detailed study of the 2024 Hays market, which had been previously shared with the city's regional carrier, SkyWest/United Airlines, based in St. George, Utah.
An early morning departure to and late evening return from Denver was implemented on April 2, 2024, generating a 131% increase in passengers.
Double-digit passenger growth has continued into 2025, Foss reported. Traffic trends are projected to hit a record 33,869 enplanements in 2025, an 18% increase from 2024. Last year tied 2019's enplanement record despite having two flights in 2025 versus three in 2019.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average round-trip fares from Hays are competitive with those of Kansas City International Airport and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, when drive time and travel costs, including parking, are factored in.
Still, Hays is carrying just 15% of the available market, Foss said, leaving plenty of opportunity for more marketing of the 32-minute average drive time to Hays in the airport's catchment area.
The city's draft 2026 budget includes a one-mill increase in the airport levy fund, although the overall total mill levy will remain at 25 mills.
Upgrades planned for the airport during the next two years include expanding the paved parking lot from 98 spaces to 161 spaces, all of which will be available for free parking.
Money has been budgeted for a larger passenger terminal planning study.
The TSA screening machine will undergo an upgrade for checked and carry-on baggage to prevent passengers from divesting certain items.
In 2026, the crosswind runway will be reconstructed, requiring a 21-day closure of all runways and a 14-day back-taxi option. The airport will work with SkyWest on the project timing.
Toby Dougherty, city manager, said Essential Air Service funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation remained in the tax bill recently signed by President Donald Trump.
Bonds issued
Commissioners also approved two resolutions authorizing and approving the sale of bonds to finance infrastructure on the city-owned property at Interstate 70 Exit 161 and public infrastructure for the Grove housing development on Canterbury Drive and its Reinvestment Housing Incentive District.
General obligation bonds will be used to fund the incentive district infrastructure improvements, permanently finance a portion of the advanced water metering infrastructure improvements, fund a portion of the police station project for $6.8 million, and fund the Grove incentive district economic development grant for $825,000. General obligation temporary notes will temporarily finance the Exit 161 infrastructure improvements.
City officials anticipate the Grove public infrastructure costs will total $3.6 million. Based upon future projections, the city estimates the incentive district increment will be sufficient to pay the debt service on bonds issued to fund the public infrastructure, as well as the bonds issued to finance the related economic development grant in the amount of $825,000.
Costs of the Exit 161 infrastructure are expected to total $4 million net of the grant proposed.
Fireworks concerns
During public comments, Hays resident Ruben Schuckman complained about excessive fireworks debris landing in his yard over the July 4th holiday.
Schuckman submitted a written request to meet with the police chief and mayor about his concerns and offered several options to the littering and noise problems. Those ranged from establishing a fund to help pay a non-profit group to remove fireworks trash from residents' yards to the city moving away from the sale and discharge of fireworks and instead sponsoring a drone light show.