First direct flight from Yuma to Sin City takes off

Fewer than 10 people fastened their seat belts at 9:02 p.m. Sunday and departed on the first direct flight from Yuma to Las Vegas.

Rebecca Miller treated her mother, Jody Rasey, to a round-trip ticket, because the first flight was on her mother's birthday.

"I saw the sign (while) driving by and said, 'That's my birthday. It's an omen; we have to go,'" said Rasey, who planned to spend her vacation gambling.

"I will go more with there being a flight. I love to fly," Miller said.

Yuma International Airport president David Egeberg had a more romantic idea for the flight. He was flying with his wife to celebrate their one-year anniversary.

"If you meet someone nice, you can take the flight to marry them," Egeberg said. "You have an hour and 15 minutes (during the flight) to get to know them."

U.S. Airways now offers outgoing flights departing around 9 p.m. on Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays. The return flights from Las Vegas land in Yuma at 1:16 a.m. Round trip tickets cost roughly $200 if purchased around three weeks in advance.

"It's good. I'm excited about it. It's like the next step," said Craig Williams, YIA director. "It gives our people so much more in the way of connections."

Williams said the flight to Vegas had been in the works for the past few months. He said that if the traffic is there, U.S. Airways could consider making the flight more than three days a week.

He said he is happy customers have two different airlines and three large hub airports - Phoenix Sky Harbor, Los Angeles International Airport and now McCarran International Airport - from which to choose.

Williams said he was pleased that after the first week of flights, the 37-passenger airplane would be at least half full. He said Friday's outgoing trip is carrying around 18 passengers.

"That makes me feel good," he said. "We have only just started and we haven't even started advertising, yet."

YIA and KTTI-FM are giving away two round-trip airfares between Yuma and Las Vegas leaving Friday and returning Sunday. The giveaway includes a two-night stay at the Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and two meals at the Flightline Bar and Grill at YIA.

Entries can be e-mailed to webmaster@951ktti.com; mailed to Vegas Flyaway, 755 W. 28th St, Yuma, AZ 85364; or faxed to 344-4983.

Deadline to enter is 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The winner will be announced at 7:10 a.m. Friday on KTTI-FM. Entrants must be at least 21 years old.

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Sun staff writer Nicole Squibbs contributed to this report. She can be reached at nsquibbs@yumasun.com or 539-6855.