UPDATE Central Nebraska Regional Airport Celebration Cancelled

This event has been cancelled. They hope to have the first flight of the CRJ900 later this month.

Grand Island, Neb. – The Central Nebraska Regional Airport (GRI) will celebrate the inaugural flight of the CRJ900 jet on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The larger aircraft is slated to arrive with its first group of passengers from Dallas – Ft. Worth International Airport (DFW) at 2:36 p.m., and scheduled to depart for DFW at 3:06 p.m.

Due to demand, American Airlines, operated by SkyWest, has issued larger jets to service GRI to DFW. The upgrade from a CRJ700 to a CRJ900 will allow 10 more passengers per flight. This includes 12 first-class seats and 63 main cabin seats.

Festivities inside the main area of the Passenger Terminal will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a remark from Executive Director, Mike Olson, and will also include cake, cupcakes, koozies and a fire truck water salute from the Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting team.

“Over the past six months, we have seen very high load factors that lead to the upgrade to the larger jet,” said Olson.

Allegiant Air flies twice weekly out of Grand Island to Las Vegas (LAS) and Mesa (IWA). American Airlines flies twice daily to Dallas - Ft. Worth (DFW) allowing Grand Island area residents access to almost anywhere in the world from the Central Nebraska Regional Airport.

To purchase flights for your next getaway to Mesa, Las Vegas, or Dallas - Ft. Worth and beyond, visit FlyGrandIsland.com.