By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The first full month of passenger service by SkyWest, flying as United Express at the Hays Regional Airport, was successful, according to acting airport manager I.D. Creech.

Service between Hays and Denver started Aug. 1.

Although United has not yet released any official figures, Creech said, “We do know, unofficially, about 700 passengers flew out the first month and more than 700 people flew in, probably because of school starting in Hays.”

On-time service was “pretty good,” he added, “with three weekend flights canceled. SkyWest’s reliability in August was between 85 and 90 percent.”

Many flights from Denver are arriving in Hays early because of a prevailing western tailwind.

“The crews will then load early and leave early if all the passengers are already here,” Creech said. “They’ve been very, what I’d call ‘friendly,” with the flight schedule to get people on the plane in Denver coming home to Hays for the 10 p.m. arrival. There’ve been a couple of night flights arriving a little late because, as a courtesy, they waited on passengers making connections in Denver to make the Hays return flight — as long as it’s not a long delay.”

Creech also reminded passengers to book and schedule their flights online at www.united.com because the United Airlines website offers “advantages in baggage handling and ticket combinations.”

“We’re ecstatic about having them here,” Creech said.