Denver Air gives local leaders flight experience

Jackson, Madison County and West Tennessee have had a number of announcements in recent years that have been described with the word "gamechanger."

The pending arrival of Denver Air as the airline flying passengers six days a week from Jackson to Atlanta and Chicago six days a week starting on Dec. 2 was given that moniker as well by Tennessee Tourism Commissioner Mark Ezell.

Denver Air Vice President Jon Coleman piloted a full 50-seat plane of legislators, government leaders, business leaders and media members from Jackson on a flight on Thursday, and Ezell was on the flight as well that went south to Tupelo, Miss, west to Memphis and back to Jackson.

After Greater Jackson Chamber President Kyle Spurgeon addressed the flight as it flew somewhere between Tupelo and Memphis, Ezell was given a minute to address the passengers as well.

"From Gov. Bill Lee and on behalf of the entire state, I want to personally congratulate all of you on getting Denver Air to Jackson because this move is a gamechanger for not only Jackson and Madison County, but all of West Tennessee," Ezell said. "It's going to open up so many opportunities for this area to bring people in and give you more convenience in traveling, that nothing but good things can come from this."

Madison County Mayor A.J. Massey addressed the passengers as well and after navigating a chorus of boos from the gallery for delivering a few air travel-themed dad jokes, he described why he's proud of this agreement.

"Because Denver Air is flying us to Atlanta and Chicago, Madison County is literally just a flight or two from literally anywhere in the world, and that's big for us," Massey said.

Spurgeon said he hopes Denver Air and its 50 seats on its planes - as opposed to 12 seats offered by previous airlines - will help the business community of Jackson continue to grow.

"We've got flights almost every day of the week to Atlanta and Chicago, and businesses will see that's just another advantage Jackson has," Spurgeon said. "The area already has a lot going for it positively, but this is just another thing we can say when we make a pitch to a company that shows interest in coming here."

Spurgeon thanked his entire crew at The Chamber for their help in getting Denver Air to Jackson, specifically naming Kyle Barron as he was the leader of that team.

McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport Director Steve Smith highlighted the biggest thing about Denver Air that he was excited about, which may be the most important aspect about the airline.

"They have a nearly 100 percent record in flights taking off and coming back, and that's something we've needed in Jackson," Smith said. "Things always happen, and weather is a concern that we can't control, but Denver Air has a great track record of controlling what they can control and staying consistent with their business."

Coleman said Jackson is an ideal market for Denver Air because of how busy the airways are expected to get in the coming years with Ford Motor Company, SK Innovations, Georgia-Pacific, Toyota, Amazon, Stanley Decker and other nationwide corporations that have locations here or planned to be here.

"When we saw the RFP, we jumped on it as quickly as we could because this is a place we wanted to be," Coleman said. "We're glad to be here and proud and grateful that Jackson, Madison County and Tennessee would want us here with them."

Brandon Shields, brandon@jacksonpost.news