New Flights To and From Idaho

HAILEY, Idaho (AP) — With business suffering from a big wildfire, the Idaho resort region surrounding Sun Valley finally has some good news: An air carrier will add high-season flights, something officials hope will boost the region's tourism-dependent economy.

United Express, operating through regional carrier Sky West, will fly the daily connection between Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, Idaho, and San Francisco starting Dec. 12 through March 30 and again from July 2 through Sept. 23. Friedman Memorial has seen declining commercial traffic since the recession began in 2007, a development particularly tough on a remote resort region difficult to reach by automobile.

These flights came after talks between a business coalition including Sun Valley Resort and United Airlines. The deal includes revenue guarantees for United, in case planes aren't as full as expected.