Flying into Branson has never been easier than it will be with the opening of the new airport, located approximately 10 minutes from the heart of Branson’s entertainment district. Today marks the first operating day of the Branson Airport (BKG) with the first flight taking off at 9 a.m. This airport is the first and only privately-funded airport in the country. The airport is located right off of Highway 65.

Currently, only two airlines are flying in and out of the Branson Airport. AirTran Airways offers low airfares to over 50 destinations, including Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) and Hartsfield-Atlanta (ATL). Sun Country Airlines offers flights to and from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP). Plans are eventually to add more airlines.

The Branson Airport offers a full service bar and restaurant, Ozarks-themed decorations, and a Bass Pro gift shop. Also, the Branson Airport has an Enterprise Rent-a-Car located on the property for car rental needs, and Branson Gray Line is contracted to provide other ground transportation, including airport shuttles, taxis, and limousines.

The airport opened today after a weekend celebration that featured three days of air shows with professional aviators.

For more information and ticket booking information, consult the airport’s Web site, http://www.flybranson.com

For any lodging or activity needs for your trip to Branson, see www.BransonShows.com, which offers a wide range of lodging options and attraction information, or call 1-800-987-6298 to make reservations.

The new Branson airport, the only completely privately funded and operated commercial airport in the United States, is scheduled to open in May 2009 and will provide convenient low cost access to the city of Branson and its many attractions. Currently the closest commercial airport to Branson is located approximately an hour away in Springfield, Missouri.

The new facility will be located just eight miles from Branson’s city center, and its proximity should encourage additional tourism to the area. While Branson attracts over eight million visitors a year with most coming from distances of over 300 miles away, only about 5 % currently fly into the area.

The soon to be open airport is designed to accommodate nearly 1.5 million passengers annually.

 Branson Airport will sit on over 900 acres of land and include a 58,000 square foot terminal. The airport has already recruited one major carrier to provide non-stop service to and from Atlanta. AirTran Airways has announced that it will provide daily direct flights between Branson and the world’s busiest airport, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. The flights will be offered beginning on May 11, 2009 at an introductory cost of just $99 plus tax per person for a one-way ticket.

For more information on Branson Airport and its grand opening visit http://www.flybranson.com/ or call (417) 334-7813.