October 21, 2020 | NR #102120060 MEDIA CONTACTS: Kate Alvarez, Abilene Regional Airport Marketing & Development Manager Interim Public Information Contact, City of Abilene Ph: 325.734.5316, Email: [email protected] Inaugural United Express flight between Abilene and Houston takes off from Abilene Regional Airport Abilene, Texas – Abilene Regional Airport is happy to celebrate the return of direct flights between Abilene and Houston through United Express, operated by SkyWest Airlines. The first flight from Abilene Regional Airport (ABI) to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) took off this evening at 5 p.m., and will be one of two daily round trip flights between ABI and IAH. The flight schedule for ABI is as follows*: Frequency Departure Airport Departing Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time Daily ABI 7:00 a.m. IAH 8:25 a.m. Daily IAH 2:35 p.m. ABI 3:55 p.m. Daily ABI 5:00 p.m. IAH 6:20 p.m. Daily IAH 8:00 p.m. ABI 9:31 p.m. *The schedule varies and may be subject to change New destinations and air service to Abilene have been a top priority for the Airport, City Council, and Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA). Adding air transportation routes will enhance the attractiveness of Abilene to prospective businesses, and make flying to and from ABI even more convenient. Reservations for flights between ABI and IAH are now available at www.united.com. United’s global network gives travelers access to approximately 506 daily departures to 116 domestic and 59 international destinations. Passengers can fly with confidence thanks to the layered approach to safety, which includes enhanced cleaning, mandatory face coverings, and customer self-assessments with check-in. Recent studies revealed Houston as a top destination for both business and leisure passengers to and from ABI. The new service is possible in part to Abilene Regional Airport receiving a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program. In addition to the United Express flights to Houston, operated by SkyWest Airlines, travelers at Abilene Regional Airport also have access to American Airlines flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). ### Subscribe to City news and more at www.abilenetx.gov/notifyme..