Supporters of the St. Cloud Regional Airport have launched a pledge drive to bring commercial air service back to the airport. After much deliberation and research, it has been determined that the airport needs approximately $2.2 million in pledges to secure scheduled air service. Airport staff says that figure is about half of what it would cost to operate service between St. Cloud and Chicago O’Hare for one year. The airport is asking area businesses and individuals to make pledges to go toward $225 round-trip tickets between St. Cloud and Chicago. The pledges are non-binding, but airport staff says they are needed to prove to a carrier the community can support the service.

"I think that we’ll get a really favorable response. The economic impact of air service loss is pretty substantive. It affects businesses negatively in a lot of ways not having regular service. Not just moving people but moving product, so I feel like we’re going to be successful with this initiative," said Jami Bestgen, Marketing Consultant for the St. Cloud Regional Airport.

Bestgen says the goal is to raise the $2.2 million dollars by September and begin service shortly thereafter. Pledge documents are available on the St. Cloud Regional Airport Web site.