February 28, 2025

Dubuque Regional Airport will soon offer morning departures, catering to business and leisure travelers within the Dubuque region. This announcement was unveiled at an air service forum hosted by the Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, February 28.

While a specific start date and flight schedule remain pending, Denver Air Connection (DAC) intends to modify its daily flights between Dubuque and O’Hare International Airport. Two or three flights per week will be transitioned from afternoon to morning departures.

The introduction of morning flight options is a result of ongoing discussions with DAC, which commenced daily service to Chicago from Dubuque in November. Initially, the only available flight schedule was afternoon-only.

“Since the resumption of daily flights to O’Hare three months ago, we have consistently received requests from business and leisure travelers for a morning flight option,” stated Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh, who also serves as chair of the board of DBQ Air, a non-profit organization dedicated to recruiting and retaining air service. “I am delighted and grateful that Denver Air Connection has promptly responded to these requests, enhancing the convenience of daily air service from our Dubuque Regional Airport.”

Additional details regarding the flight schedule change are still being finalized, including the availability of morning flights for booking. These details will be communicated as soon as they become available. A Denver Air Connection executive who addressed the forum also indicated that the airline is considering offering direct flights from Dubuque to Denver in the future.

Denver Air Connection’s flights to and from Chicago represent a resumption of daily commercial air service at the Dubuque Regional Airport, approximately two years after American Airlines discontinued service.

“This is a cause worth pursuing,” Cavanagh stated. “If we merely wish for our community to remain stagnant or even diminish, then flights are unnecessary. However, if we aspire for our economy to thrive and our community to flourish, we require flights at our airport. Here is the encouraging news: our destiny lies within our control. If we depart from our airport, we can retain the existing flights and augment their frequency.”

Passengers can utilize Denver Air’s agreements with American and United Airlines to facilitate same-day connections to numerous destinations. The implementation of morning flights will further enhance the availability of these connections. Tickets can be purchased directly through American, United, DAC, or a preferred online travel retailer or agency. Base fares for flights between Dubuque and Chicago have recently been reduced to $69 one-way.

Furthermore, an air service consultant at the forum provided additional insights into the broader state of the air travel industry. One notable observation was that business travel has exhibited a slower recovery compared to leisure travel following the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it was highlighted that among airports that experienced service disruptions due to the pandemic, Dubuque has demonstrated a more rapid recovery of flight capacity.