OGDEN — The return of commercial airline service to Ogden-Hinckley Airport has been a success according to both the city and the airline that brought it back.

Utah-based Breeze Airways began serving Ogden on Feb. 21 with service four days per week to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California.

Breeze Communications Specialist Ryne Williams told the Standard-Examiner on Monday that Santa Ana’s close proximity to attractions such as Disneyland has helped drive many families from the Ogden area to take flights on the route this summer.

“We’ve seen great demand out of Ogden,” he said. “It’s been really fun to see a lot of families taking that jump to take a vacation. Obviously, John Wayne-Santa Ana is a family-friendly destination. Lot of great theme parks out there — one that’s especially popular, as we all know. After losing service and us coming in there, we’ve been really pleased to see some great demand.”

Williams said the airline has transported over 19,000 people on the route since its inception. Prior to Breeze’s entry, Avelo Airlines and Allegiant Airlines served Ogden. Both ceased service to the city in 2022.

Ogden City Marketing & Communications Manager Mike McBride told the Standard-Examiner in an email that the city is also pleased with how the last nearly seven months have played out.

“The community is very supportive of the flights from Ogden to Orange County/Santa Ana,” he said. “Flights are generally full and the feedback from customers is overwhelmingly positive considering the ease of access and benefits of using a smaller regional airport. Parking is easy and affordable, there are only a couple of hundred steps to the gate and TSA check-in is smooth and generally pleasant.”

He added this is very much in line with the airport’s mission of serving the area.

“Ogden-Hinckley Airport is a vital transportation hub in Northern Utah, serving the local community and visitors with a range of aviation services,” he said. “The airport is dedicated to providing safe, efficient and customer-focused operations, supporting both general aviation and commercial activities. With a commitment to growth and innovation, Ogden-Hinckley Airport continues to play a crucial role in the economic development of the region.”

Williams said there is a willingness to look at additional routes from Ogden in the future.

“Here at Breeze, we’re always looking for new opportunities from the communities that we currently serve,” he said. “I can’t pinpoint anything specifically, but we’re always interested in seeing what routes might work out of a certain market. We’re always looking for those opportunities. If there’s something that we see that we like out of Ogden that we see a lot of potential for, that’s something we might look towards in the future.”

McBride mirrored this openness to expanded commercial options in Ogden.

“The city is open to expanding service and is ready to respond to market needs if there is interest from commercial providers,” he said.

Breeze, which is headquartered in Cottonwood Heights, also has a large presence at Provo Municipal Airport. From this base, the airline currently serves Phoenix, Santa Ana, Dallas/Ft. Worth and San Francisco.