About 55 passengers disembarked from a United CRJ-700 jet at Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (SORA) in North Bend Wednesday afternoon as part of an inaugural flight between the South Coast and Denver’s international airport. More than 75 local dignitaries and supporters attended the mid-day function hosted by the staff’s at the Coos Co. Airport District facility and Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Bandon Dunes played a major role in attracting the twice a week connection by committing $600,000 to match a federal grant of $550,000 guaranteeing United Airlines a revenue. The hope is the new connection will pay for itself. The current contract calls for the SkyWest operated direct air service to fly in on Sunday’s and Wednesday’s. Cheers roared out when the 75-passenger jet touchdown at 1:05 p.m. While taxing to the terminal, an airport fire truck fired off a water welcome as it arrived on the tarmac. The first passengers inside the terminal were greeted by a welcome that included an applause and gift bags from Bandon Dunes. A majority of the passengers looked like golfers, but not all. While many welcome the arrival of visitors to the area, the return trip involved about 35 passengers. One local Bay Area businessman attending the function welcomed the new service saying his daughter could now catch a direct flight home instead of going through Portland or Eugene. The new air service is off to a great start according to airport officials. SORA also offers daily flights to Portland and San Francisco.
