St. George • Los Angeles is back on the itinerary for passengers at St. George Regional Airport, and food and alcoholic beverages will be on the menu for the first time.
City officials joined St. George-based SkyWest Airlines leaders and other dignitaries Thursday to celebrate the return of daily direct United Airlines flights to California’s most populous city, which have been on hiatus since the airport dropped the route when business nosedived in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Airport officials’ celebratory mood continued Friday with the unveiling of the Observation Deck Bar & Bistro, the first-ever restaurant inside the airport. The St. George airport also became the second airport in the state authorized to sell alcoholic beverages, following Salt Lake City International Airport.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) St. George Regional Airport on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
St. George officials say the airport and service upgrades reflect the fact that city has been discovered, largely due to its proximity to Las Vegas, Utah’s national parks, lush redrock landscapes and marquee attractions like the $2 billion Black Desert Resort taking shape in nearby Ivins.
“We are going to be welcoming a lot of people to this region,” St. George Economic Development Director Chad Thomas said. “The St. George Regional Airport will kind of be the front door for a lot of people who have never been here before.”
Traffic at St. George’s airport has ballooned from almost 137,000 passengers in 2011 — its first year of operation — to more than 275,000 in 2022 and just under 270,000 last year. All told, the airport — Utah’s second busiest — provides 1,936 jobs and generates $9.5 million in state and local taxes each year, according to a 2021 Utah Aviation Development Economic Impact Study.
As the St. George metro area continues to grow, and more amenities and flights are added to the airport, city officials expect those numbers will continue their upward trajectory. With the return of flights to Southern California, the airport now has regional carrier SkyWest and three airlines — Delta, United and American — offering direct flights to Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City.
Port of call for alcohol
St. George leaders also have high hopes for the new bistro and bar, which is located in the secure area on the terminal’s second floor, where the observation deck was once located. Paid for with roughly $700,000 allocated by state lawmakers, the bar, operated by Tailwind Concessions, can seat up to 30 in the bistro and another 15 in the bar.
It is a major upgrade from the vending machines that have long been passengers’ sole food option.
“A Snickers bar is great but sometimes you want something a little more filling …,” Thomas said. “This restaurant will give people unparalleled views of the mountains and redrocks. And there is nothing like a sunset or sunrise in southern Utah.”
(Dustin Warren) The Observation Deck Bar & Bistro, the first restaurant at St. George Regional Airport.
As panoramic as the views are, the fare on the menu will be largely limited to flatbread pizza, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, specialty coffees and smoothies, due to the fact the bistro does not have a commercial hood or ventilation system that would enable the staff to grill burgers or steaks. In addition, beer, wine and cocktails are on hold until the eatery, as expected, receives its state liquor license. Until then, the bar is open for general seating.
With the restaurant retrofit, the secure area where passengers can wait to board flights will seat 270 patrons — 225 downstairs and 45 at the upstairs restaurant. Large-screen TVs will keep people entertained and apprised of the latest flight information, according to airport officials.
(Dustin Warren) The Observation Deck Bar & Bistro, the first restaurant at St. George Regional Airport.
Airport manager Dustin Warren said the $700,000 upgrade is part of the $10 million the Utah Legislature allocated last year for airport improvements. Beside funding the restaurant, the money is being used to pave a 2,200-foot extension to Airport Parkway, the road that parallels the runway.
“It gives us an opportunity to bring more infrastructure … to the north end of the airfield for hangar expansion,” said Warren, adding the project is about 85% completed.
Another big-ticket item the $10 million is paying for is the siting study and design of the airport control tower, which is expected to cost about $15 million once construction is completed in 2026. The tower looms large in airport officials’ plan to enhance public safety by better controlling the increasing flow of private and commercial flights arriving and departing from St. George.
