Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Air Choice One launches Minneapolis flights today

HURLEY — Among the items reported on by committee chairs during Tuesday’s Iron County Board of Supervisors meeting was Supervisor Paul Mullard’s announcement Air Choice One would begin flights to Minneapolis today.

Mullard, who represents the county on the airport board, said the flights would be offered once a day at an introductory rate of $19 (before taxes) for a one-way ticket.

“So if you want to fly to Minneapolis, (now’s the time),” Mullard said.

Mullard also said the airport board was recommending Air Choice One’s contract be extended for another four years.

According to information on the Gogebic-Iron County Airport’s website, flights to Minneapolis will be offered Monday through Friday, departing Ironwood at 11 a.m. and arriving in Minneapolis at approximately 12:20 p.m.

Return flights are scheduled to leave Minneapolis at 2:30 p.m., arriving in Ironwood at roughly 3:50 p.m.

The $19 introductory rate will last through the month of June, according to Vanessa Meide at the airport, and total $29.10 after taxes. Due to differences in the state taxes codes between Michigan and Minnesota, Meide said flights to Ironwood will cost $24.60.

The flights have been filling up fast, she said.

“The month of June has booked fairly fast with that introductory rate that we have going on,” Meide said.

Following the end of June’s introductory rate, Meide said ticket prices will increase to $59.10 after taxes for Ironwood to Minneapolis flights and $54.60 for tickets to Ironwood.

The airport’s website shows two flights between Ironwood and Chicago each weekday — departing Ironwood at 4:40 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. — will continue, as will the corresponding return trips leaving Chicago at 7:50 a.m. and 8:10 p.m.

The morning flights will run Monday through Friday, with the later flights offered Sunday through Friday.

The site shows there will also be a 11 a.m. flight departing Ironwood and a 2 p.m. flight departing Chicago offered on Saturdays and Sundays as well.

In other action:

— The board approved the county’s 5-year Outdoor Recreation Plan.

— The board also approved the annual report for the county’s University of Wisconsin Extension office.