City Of Williston Receives $500,000 Federal Grant To Add Seasonal Flights To Phoenix In Fall Of 2023

Williston, ND – City of Williston officials have announced they have received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to add new low-cost flights to Phoenix, AZ in the Fall of 2023.

Sun Country Airlines is expected to offer two seasonal round trips per week from Williston Basin International Airport (XWA) to Phoenix. The actual dates have yet to be determined.

Sun Country initially entered the Williston market in September 2021, offering seasonal round trip flights to Las Vegas, NV. The Las Vegas flights will return in Sept. 2022.

“The City of Williston has been working for many years to enhance air service to the Williston region,” said Williston Airport Director Anthony Dudas. “Since XWA commenced operations in 2019, we’ve been able to attract low cost, direct air service to Las Vegas with Sun Country Airlines while maintaining and growing existing air service.”

Williston Mayor Howard Klug was excited to help announce the new flight.

“Once again, if you build it, they will come,” said Klug.

XWA celebrated its grand opening in October 2019, three years after construction began on the expansive project.

“It’s been proven that we are working diligently to get low-cost carriers into XWA and we will continue to work on transportation solutions for our community,” added Klug.

The $500,000 grant was made available through the Small Community Air Services Development Program (SCASDP) funded through the annual appropriations legislation and will help secure the twice-weekly air service to Phoenix, AZ.

The new flight will provide improved access to affordable air travel to the region’s leisure and business fliers.

“We are ecstatic to be awarded a $500,000 small community air service development grant to help secure twice-weekly air service to Phoenix,” said Dudas. “Great air service is critical to our region’s quality of life and ability to attract and retain work force. Now that this grant is in place, we’ll be working with Sun Country Airlines to solidify future air service announcements at XWA.”

Sun Country is a Minnesota-based firm that provides low-cost charter flights throughout the U.S. and to destinations in Mexico, Central America, Canada, and the Caribbean.

Book your Sun Country Airlines flight to Las Vegas or Phoenix today at https://www.flywilliston.net.