By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

On Aug. 1, the city of Hays implemented a new flight schedule for Hays Regional Airport and switched to all-Denver air service. Previously, the airport had offered flights to Denver and Kansas City.

City staff has spent the rest of the year looking for ways to boost the airport's boarding numbers, and it's hoped the new air service soon will take off, said Brenda Herrman, the city's airport manager and public works director.

Progress, however, could be a journey.

"Quite frankly, when we started this, it was my opinion that we'd have to give it a two-year period just to work the kinks out," Herrman said. "Kind of work ourselves on improving boardings and things of that nature to see the full effect that I believe in going to the all-Denver service.

"I still think it's coming," she added. "It's not coming as fast as I had hoped, but I think it's still going to be there."

One of those "kinks" has been frustration with the performance of Great Lakes Airlines, which is contracted until 2011.

The Hays Fire Department began monitoring the number of late and cancelled flights this summer. From Aug. 1 to Nov. 30, an average of about 27 percent of flights have been delayed or cancelled per month. The issue has sparked concern from city employees and commissioners alike.

"I can tell you that we continually voice our complaints," City Manager Toby Dougherty said at a city commission meeting earlier this year. "Whenever we experience a rash of late flights, we make our opinion known that we're not happy with it."

It is hoped the change in service will increase the number of enplanements. If at least 10,000 passengers board at the airport annually, the city is entitled to $1 million in federal funding.

The city achieved this goal in 2006 and 2007, but fell short with only about 8,200 boardings in 2008. Earlier this month, the number of boardings year-to-date was less than 7,000.

Compared to last year, the number of enplanements has dropped monthly, with the exception of a 12 percent increase between Nov. 2008 and Nov. 2009.

"There are two factors here," Herrman said. "The economy certainly isn't helping us, and the fact that we made a change in air service."

To reverse the downward trend, a 12-person Fly Hays marketing group has been established with the goal of achieving 10,000 boardings in 2010. It's also possible Hays will host its first fly-in event this summer to promote the airport.

"Things are moving along and we're still working on making improvements and that will be a forever ongoing situation out here," Herrman said. "I believe the stage is set for good things to happen."