Great Plains Airlines growing

Tulsa based Great Plains Airlines announces it will expand its operations as well as it's destinations. <br><br>It's a move, as News on Six reporter Jenni Monet explains, will help this local

Wednesday, July 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Tulsa based Great Plains Airlines announces it will expand its operations as well as it's destinations.

It's a move, as News on Six reporter Jenni Monet explains, will help this local airline to become a contender with the big birds.

Since the first planes took off in March of 2001, Tulsa based Great Plains Airlines has seen some turbulent times. With daily flights to five destinations operated by only two planes, the small airline has suffered financial loss time and again, even before and after the financial effects of September 11th.

Great Plains CEO, Jack Knight, "We're up 22% in passenger traffic from last year so we've recovered from a certain degree from 9-11." Knight now has new hope with an announcement to add four new additional planes sold by a German manufacturer. "They're the same as what we're flying now, reliable dependable, everything else that goes with a new aircraft."

The new planes will mean new routes, and new opportunity, lining up this airline as a contender when it comes to flying the friendly skies. "One of the problems we've had is we've only had 2 aircraft. Now we can reach it into a level of profitability."

Airline officials say they will soon reveal the new destinations to be offered once the four new airliners arrive. The additional aircraft will bring the company's total planes to six in all.