BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – When flying out of the Bismarck Airport, travelers have a limited number of options for direct flights.

Incentive programs airports provide to new or existing airlines can open up new options.

Bismarck Airport began offering incentives when they brought in Allegiant Air.

These incentive programs are a common offering for airports nationwide to encourage airlines to offer nonstop service to new destinations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes incentives allow new or existing airlines to get off on the right foot and lower their startup costs, avoiding a competitive disadvantage.

“Incentive program is approved by the city commission. Our incentive program allows for fee waivers up to one year on a route and then marketing for that new route up to two years,” said the Bismarck Airport’s Marketing and Operations Manager Matthew Remynse.

For the American Airlines Chicago O’Hare direct flight, the incentive package totals about $200,000, including nearly $150,000 in fee waivers, security charges, and landing fees, among other fee waivers, and $50,000 for marketing efforts.

None of these fees are paid through the city’s general fund.

“Some other airports, they have, you know, millions of dollars worth of incentive programs that they can offer for new routes,” said Remynse.

For Bismarck to provide an incentive package, the new route must be in their top 20 destinations.

The new direct flight to Chicago O’Hare will begin on June 5, 2025.

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