Abilene Regional Airport Announces Major Expansion With New United Express Service
Big news for Texas flyers out of Abilene: beginning March 2026, Abilene Regional Airport will add new direct United Express flights to Houston (IAH) and Denver (DEN). The flights will be operated by SkyWest Airlines, in partnership with the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA) and the City of Abilene, under something they’re calling Project Rise.
Convenient… and Hopefully Not “Here We Go Again”
Abilene has been growing. New businesses, more development, and what seems like more people moving here who are confused by the Highways 83/84/277 merge. So this expansion is meant to boost economic access, support local companies, and help attract workforce talent.
SkyWest says having access to United’s global network will make it easier to connect to hundreds of destinations from either Houston or Denver. That’s legit. Being able to hop to Europe, Vegas, or even just a Cowboys road game without driving to DFW does sound dreamy.
The Elephant in the Terminal
Look, we’ve been here before. We’ve had extra routes come and go faster than queso on a table at Miguel’s. And yes, flying out of Abilene can cost more than my first used car. So the excitement comes with a fair dose of cautious optimism. In 2020, United Express (via SkyWest) started nonstop service from ABI to Houston; however, they ceased service by October 2021, citing staffing issues.
Final Approach
If this sticks, it’s a win: better convenience, stronger business connections, and fewer “well, we can leave at 2 AM to get to DFW in time” road trips. Here’s hoping Project Rise actually rises. Find info at Develop Abilene.
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