United Airlines offers direct service to Denver out of Monterey Regional Airport

More about the new travel option coming to the Central Coast. Now that travelers will be able to fly direct to Denver from Monterey, we wanted to know how it compares to other options.

United Airlines is partnering with the airport to offer the service. Though Denver may not be everyone’s destination city, it is a hub for countless other places around the world.

The airport says leaving from here is all about convenience.

“There is an advantage, your time is worth something,” says Carl Miller, chairman of the board at the Monterey Regional Airport, “When you factor in parking when you factor in the aggravation of traffic and worrying about getting there and the long lines through TSA. We pride ourselves on being the most convenient airport and this is a huge benefit we offer.”

Officials with United Airlines say it’s not just about the convenience but also the connections.

“You can start here in Monterey and you can connect to Singapore, you can connect to Tokyo, you can go to London, the Midwest, East Coast,” said B.J. Youngerman, director for California Strategic Initiatives with the airline, “[The] structure allows the customer to start here and with one additional flight, go all over the world.”

So now airport officials say it’s about keeping the service here for the long term.

“If this service isn’t utilized, it will go away. Airplanes are very precious and if they’re not filled they’ll move them to other airports,” Miller said.

The flights start October 4th and will fly twice daily.

United says depending on the day, the planes will hold 50 to 76 passengers.