The Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) is the third largest airport in the state and the largest in Southeastern Washington. Tri-City residents got good news last July when it was announced that American Airlines would begin flying direct from Pasco to Phoenix’s SkyHarbor (PHX) in February 2024. Gaining a direct route to Arizona will greatly increase access to the 100 or more destinations on American Airlines’ flights out of Phoenix.
In recent years PSC has offered direct flights to Arizona on Allegiant that land at the small airport in Mesa, Arizona. For those seeking to enjoy a direct flight, and not needing a transfer to connecting flights, Allegiant flights have offered an easy and affordable quick option for sun-seekers and snowbirds who winter in Arizona. Many customers enjoy Mesa’s regional-size airport, car renting experiences, and easy access to highways. The new flights on American Airlines will be different in that they will take passengers to a large, international airport. Additionally, by landing at Sky Harbor, customers who want to visit Scottsdale will be closer by car than those flights that land in Mesa.
While the Allegiant flights are offered twice weekly, the new American flight will depart daily. At this time, the dual-class Ebraer (76 passenger) plane will depart PHX at 11:20 a.m. and land in PSC at 1:30 p.m., a flight of approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes. It will return to PHX by departing at 3:00 p.m. out of Pasco. This assigned time slot to Phoenix should allow passengers to make critical connections to many domestic and some international destinations. Ticket costs are currently posted at $550.00 to $1700.00 round trip, significantly more than the price of Allegiant tickets.
Adding American Airlines flights that travel non-stop to PHX will provide Tri-Citians with one more option to make connecting flights or just deplane close to the city of Phoenix or Scottsdale. Before February, residents have been limited to Delta through Salt Lake City, United through Denver, or Alaska through Seattle. Due to weather issues in the winter, the flight through Phoenix will likely be preferable for passengers making their way to connecting flights.
Buck Taft, the Director of the Tri-Cities Airport, is pleased to bring this first-time service of American Airlines to Pasco. He contends that “Success builds on success,” and is hopeful that the Tri-City residents make frequent use of this route so that the airline will be incentivized to add more flights to and from Pasco.
