Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita received a $1 million grant on September 28, 2026, from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program. The funding supports Wichita’s efforts to launch a new nonstop flight to an East Coast hub, targeting either Charlotte, North Carolina, or the New York City metro area beginning in 2027.
Salina Regional Airport ranks second in Kansas for destinations served by commercial flights, trailing Wichita. Salina offers three nonstop daily flights to major United Airlines hubs, connecting to Denver, Chicago, and Houston. SkyWest Airlines operates these flights as United Express using
Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft.
The Essential Air Service (EAS) program subsidizes the Salina flights to Denver and Chicago, while the addition of the Houston flight in May 2025 was made possible by the success of those routes. All three daily nonstop flights contribute to comprehensive air service coverage for smaller communities in Kansas.
Passenger enplanements at Salina Regional Airport have increased steadily, with 15,080 recorded in 2023, rising to 23,456 in 2024, and further climbing to 36,275 in 2025. The growth reflects a nearly 55% increase since 2023, boosted by the launch of the Houston flight.
Jesse Romo, director of airports
at Eisenhower National Airport, emphasized the grant’s strategic value, stating, “This grant gives us another important tool as we continue advocating for the air service our community needs.” He added that adding an East Coast hub “would provide Wichita travelers with another valuable nonstop destination while opening additional one-stop connections throughout the East Coast and beyond.”
