Branson AirExpress launches first flights

Six new cities were added to the Branson Airport destination list Monday morning.

Branson AirExpress, a public charter service operated by ExpressJet Airlines, began service to six cities Monday: Austin and Houston, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Shreveport, La., Nashville, Tenn., and Gulfport/Biloxi, Miss.

Officials from the airport and the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau were on hand Monday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the airport, at 4000 Branson Airport Blvd. in Hollister.

A seventh destination - Terre Haute, Ind. - was originally slated but was cancelled due to low prebooking numbers.

The airport now flies to eight destinations, including service to Denver through Frontier Airlines and Atlanta through AirTran Airways. A ninth city will be added to the list when AirTran begins service to Milwaukee in July.