Pullman-Moscow Will Soon See 737s, Q-400s

A three-year effort by officials at southeast Washington state's Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport (KPUW) has paid off, with the Federal Aviation Administration giving its OK for larger planes to operate from the airport.

Airport manager Robb Parish told the Associated Press the FAA waiver is VERY good news for the small-town airport, which serves a wide area including two large colleges... Washington State University, and the University of Idaho.

Parish said larger aircraft -- such as Boeing 737s, and de Havilland Dash-8 Q400s -- are needed to handle the influx of traffic to the airport during peak travel times, such as holiday breaks and the summer travel season.

The airport is currently served by smaller Dash-8s flying for Alaska Airlines' regional subsidiary Horizon Air.

Some work needed to be done to the single-runway airport to meet FAA guidelines for the larger planes -- including widened safety areas along the runway.

Airport officials hope to have larger planes flying to KPUW by the fall -- just in time for winter break.

FMI: www.pullman-wa.gov/airport