Flights have resumed at the Devils Lake Airport, much earlier than expected. Great Lakes Aviation has already started flying to and from the terminal.Today’s two round trip flights to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport came as a surprise to Devils Lake Airport manager John Nord.John Nord: we were looking at January 1st probably as our best date and wow all of a sudden things just fell into place really quick.

There has been just four flights in and out of the airport since December 1st. Delta retired the smaller planes it once used and started flying bigger jets. But the airport’s runways just weren’t long enough.So the airline started bussing people to other airports.John Nord:we were running basically taxis back and forth to Grand Forks primarily but some to Jamestown also.passengers flying in and out of the Devils Lake terminal today say they’re happy a deal was reached with Great Lakes Aviation in time for holiday travels.

Tim Senger Passenger: we’re just glad to have it here!Stephanie Martinson (Filer): “it’s much nicer to just fly directly from Minneapolis.Once in Minneapolis, the flights connect to Delta. Delta’s old planes had room for 30 passengers. Great Lakes Aviation planes hold 19.John Nord:the big difference there was, we were sharing the 30 seat SAAB with Jamestown and now we’ve got out own direct flights back and forth, so essentially we’ve picked up more seats.Stephanie Martinson: “i think it’s a little bit faster too.