The people of the historic city of Natchez have celebrated the first commercial flights to Houston, after United Airlines (operated by United Express) commenced scheduled commercial flights to its Texas hub. This marks the first time scheduled flights have operated to Natchez in more than three decades.

Natchez-Adams County Airport (HEZ) recently went through a transformation to convert a 10,000-square-foot hangar into a modern airport terminal in the last six months, which now includes Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening, food vendors, and other standard amenities. Many locals visited the airport to celebrate the new route, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place.

Daily Flights From Natchez To Houston With The CRJ-200

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United will operate a daily service from Natchez to Houston onboard its Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft, capable of carrying 50 passengers each way. As reported by the Natchez Democrat, strong demand proved the need for the regional service to one of United Airlines’ busiest hubs.

Natchez Airport worked to convert the 10,000-square-foot hangar, which had previously been used by a local businessman, into a commercial passenger terminal in just half a year. Inside the terminal, airline ticketing, TSA, baggage handling, passenger waiting areas, and signage have been installed. United has also delivered its own ground equipment to the airport to support the new flight operations. Airport Director Carl Beasley shared some insight into the work that has gone on behind the scenes:

“This is a one-and-a-half- to two-year project crammed into six months. We had three semis loaded with SkyWest equipment drive up to the airport.”

Up To 500 Passengers Daily Drive To Neighboring Airports

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To attract United to the airport, a thorough analysis was done by aviation consultant Jeremiah Gerald for travelers in the region, which identified that around 500 passengers per day are forced to drive to neighbouring airports, such as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), Jackson (JAN), Baton Rouge (BTR), and Houston, to start domestic or international trips. The most popular destinations include Los Angeles (LAX), Denver International Airport (DEN), Orlando (MCO), and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

By gaining a non-stop daily service to Houston, Natchez locals can now enjoy one-stop flights to more than 200 of United’s network. Supporting the route launch is almost $1 million that was secured through the federal Small Community Air Service Development Program, which will help offset any airline losses during the startup phase. According to airport officials, a single round-trip will cost $3.3 million per year.

The new service will depart from Houston every day at 11:55 AM for the one-hour and 18-minute non-stop flight that would usually take more than five hours by road. The flight operates as UA5086 and has a scheduled arrival time of 1:13 PM. Return flights depart from Natchez at 1:45 PM as UA5139, with a 55-minute flight time back to Houston, arriving at 3:05 PM.

Non-Stop Flights Return To Adams County

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Natchez, Mississippi, is the only city in Adams County and was a prominent city in the antebellum period, as a hub for cotton and river trade. The city is around 90 miles (140 km) south of Baton Rouge, and is the 28th largest city in the state. Its estimated metro population is around 53,000 people.

Natchez-Adams County Airport, also known as Hardy-Anders Field, is owned by the county and is a public use airport just six miles (11 km) south of the city center. The last time a scheduled airline operated to the airport was in 1994, when Lone Star Airlines flew a Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).

With United now operating a daily service to Natchez from July 1, it marks a new era for the airport, which, after an extensive hangar renovation and quick actions by those leading the project, has secured a daily service with one of the world’s largest airlines, making it easier for those traveling to and from the region supporting tourism, business, and trade.