After 15 years, commercial flights return to Salem

For the first time in 15 years, passenger flights are once again taking off from the Salem Municipal Airport.

Ultra low-cost carrier Avelo is now offering service from McNary Field to Las Vegas and Burbank.

It’s the first airline to provide commercial flights since Delta stopped its service to Salem during the 2008 financial crisis, when fuel prices skyrocketed.

“Those were 50-passenger regional jets… and that model really is no longer viable anywhere,” Salem Mayor Chris Hoy said. “They can’t really put enough people on those to pay for the fuel.”

Travel Salem CEO and President Angie Villery said the city has been working for five and a half years to land another airline in Salem.

She said the city initially garnered interest from major carriers connected to busy hubs. But after the pandemic, focus shifted to newer, low-cost carriers like Avelo.

“We really became attractive as almost a ‘Portland South’ airport for the ultra low-cost carrier segment, and that was really exciting for us,” Villery said.

Hoy said the city worked with federal agencies to bring the airport up to standard. The floor had to be reinforced to accommodate heavier, more sensitive security equipment, and security plans had to be made.

However, space is still tight with the larger commercial planes, and passenger holding areas and parking lots can get crowded.