PUEBLO, CO — In a move aimed at improving connectivity and convenience for local travelers, Pueblo Memorial Airport is set to welcome a new airline, Denver Air Connections (DAC). The partnership is designed to provide more frequent and reliable flights between Pueblo and Denver, making air travel more accessible for residents in the region.
The transition comes after the city ended its agreement with Southern Airways in August 2024, and DAC was selected as the new essential airline for the airport. This change aims to address long-standing concerns about flight delays and cancellations, which had previously led some travelers to opt for Denver International Airport (DIA) instead of flying out of Pueblo.
One local resident, Kerry Roman, expressed her enthusiasm about the new service. Roman, who had used Pueblo Memorial Airport in the past but stopped flying out of the airport due to issues with the former airline, believes the new airline could change her travel habits.
“Travel is stressful to begin with, and just being able to have a regional airport that can take you to a bigger airport is just so much better,” said Roman. “This is going to encourage me to travel more.”
Roman had been frustrated with the unreliability of the previous airline, noting frequent cancellations and delays. The ease of flying directly from Pueblo rather than enduring a two-hour drive to DIA had always been appealing, but the reliability of flights was a major concern.
The new DAC service promises to resolve those issues. Starting May 1, 2025, the airline will offer 12 weekly flights between Pueblo and Denver, including four daily departures: two from Pueblo to Denver and two from Denver to Pueblo. With flight times under an hour, DAC hopes to make travel more convenient for both leisure and business travelers alike.
“Skipping I-25 is a definite benefit for a lot of us,” said Donielle Kitzman, Vice President of the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. She believes that the new service will have a positive impact on Pueblo’s economy. “We believe we’re going to see increased visitation to Pueblo, increased spending in our community, and increased hotel stays as a result of that. Bringing business travelers in helps all industries in Pueblo.”
In 2023, Pueblo County’s tourism-related spending reached an impressive $277 million, and Kitzman anticipates that the new flights could help boost those numbers further. The increased accessibility to Denver, paired with the added convenience of flying locally, could drive more people to consider Pueblo as a destination.
The new flights are expected to serve both tourism and business sectors, providing easy access for travelers to and from the Steel City. The convenience of flying locally, without the need for long drives or bus rides to DIA, is a welcome change for many, particularly those with tight schedules.
For travelers like Roman, the main priority is simple: reliability. “All I want is for you to get me from point A to point B on time and not cancel and leave me an alert,” she said.
With its scheduled departure times already set — Pueblo to Denver at 8:00 a.m. and 1:05 p.m., and Denver to Pueblo at 11:45 a.m. and 5:35 p.m. — DAC is poised to provide the dependable service that Pueblo residents have been waiting for.
Flights from Pueblo to Denver begin on May 1, and with the support of the city’s revitalization plan for the airport, this partnership is expected to reshape the local travel experience, benefiting both passengers and the Pueblo community as a whole.
