Oil City News12%
Casper airport sees record July traffic while pursuing new airlines 1%
By Klark Byrd15%
8/4/2026, 5:35:02 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 0 faulty reasoning types, including no named faulty reasoning patterns yet, with no single egregious example has been isolated yet. Analysis detected 0 faulty-reasoning hits from 518 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 0% and a BS Rank of 1% (26,784 of 26,881 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 99.60% of the article peer group.
CASPER, Wyo. — Passenger traffic at Casper/Natrona County International Airport reached its highest July level since 1981, bringing renewed focus to efforts to recruit another commercial airline.
July statistics finished at 10,900 passengers, Airport Director Glenn Januska told Oil City News after he spoke with the Natrona County Board of Commissioners during Tuesday’s work session .
Commissioner Dallas Laird specifically asked Januska if another airline might arrive soon.
Januska said commercial airlines usually give minimal advance notice before announcing new routes.
“Literally, I’ll probably know about two days before he does,” he told Oil City News during the follow-up interview.
The increase in passenger numbers with United Airlines doesn’t stop local recruitment efforts.
“It also means that we’re not just looking for the next shiny object,” Januska said.
United remains competitive on pricing.
When Delta Air Lines left the local market in December 2024, Casper saw a decrease in United’s average airfares, he said.
Delta connections to Salt Lake City and American Airlines connections to Dallas, Chicago or Phoenix are logical route targets for potential incoming carriers, he added.
A return of Delta service to Salt Lake City remains a priority.
Network carriers operate under different cost structures than regional partners like SkyWest, making a direct route viable.
“The distance between Casper and Salt Lake City is a reasonable distance, not that much different than Casper to Denver,” Januska said.
For American Airlines, routes to Chicago or Phoenix are strategic advantages.
Chicago provides international connections that eliminate double-connects for area travelers.
“Chicago gets you a lot,” he said.
Phoenix is a leisure market for area residents who own winter homes or travel there for recreation.
Januska said airline decisions are driven strictly by regional economics, job growth and corporate activity.
Mining, data centers and industrial expansions can attract airlines as they increase the number of local jobs.
“A carrier has to make money in the market and have to make more money with that airplane in your market than their next opportunity,” Januska said.
Beyond commercial flights, the airport is preparing for infrastructure upgrades, including a runway apron rehabilitation and a control tower groundbreaking on Friday, Aug.
14.
“The current tower was built in 1954, but even aside from the age of the tower, it doesn’t meet all of the criteria and requirements you would have if you were building a new tower today,” Januska said previously.
The current tower is 50 feet tall, which is considerably shorter than ideal, he said.
The new planned tower will measure roughly 132 feet from the ground to eye level.
County commissioners reviewed a $353,279 federal grant offer from the Federal Aviation Administration to cover 95% of allowable costs to design Phase 1 of the general aviation apron rehabilitation.
The county must execute the grant agreement by Aug.
15.
Commissioners also asked if the airport is pursuing future air shows.
Januska said the airport lacks the staff to manage large public events, but remains open to collaborating with groups like the Reno Air Race Association if they seek a second location.
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0%flagged-word coverageGlenn Januska
249 attributed words100% of attributed speech0% writer coverage
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