For me, not much beats the feeling of looking down from a little plane window to see the recognizable, snaking blue of the South Fork of the Shoshone River.

Flying into Cody yesterday, a day late yet hours of sleep short at the end of a longer-than-expected spring break trip, it was a relief to land so close to our home outside Ralston. (Not that I can complain too much about plane troubles forcing me to spend more time on vacation)

My trip came soon after the disappointing news that Delta is once again not returning to service the airport this summer, which means Salt Lake City remains a long drive or flight from Billings away. 

And let’s not forget, just a few years ago we even had flights to Chicago in the summer as well. 

It’s frustrating that Sky Blue (the regional Delta affiliate) has decided it’s not worth it to resume its flights here in the summer, when once it was the primary carrier for the airport. I understand it’s a business and sometimes even minimum revenue guarantees don’t sweeten the pot enough, but I have a sense that if more service was offered, it might lead to more Big Horn Basin residents who had resigned themselves to flying out of Billings giving Cody another try. 

Regardless, my family enjoyed landing just 15 minutes from home. And when you’re bleary-eyed from lack of sleep and far too many hours in an airport, the last thing you want is an hour and a half drive between you and home. 

So, even with United flights from Denver the only game in town right now, I for one am still pleased to have a commercial airport right in Park County. Just forgive me if I swear off plane travel in general for awhile, I need some sleep.