Junket air carrier expanding Elko flights

Monday, Oct. 4, 1999 | 11:58 a.m.

ELKO -- An air charter service is expanding the number of flights to and from Elko, a small town in Northern Nevada.

Casino Express Airlines, owned by McClaskey Enterprises, the same company that owns the Red Lion hotel-casino in Elko, will provide round-trip flights for $99 Thursdays and Sundays beginning Oct. 14.

The airline, which acquired three Boeing 737 jets to increase the fleet to five, has a calendar of flights to and from Denver; Phoenix; Seattle; Spokane, Wash.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Portland, Ore.; Missoula, Mont.; Boise, Idaho; San Jose, Calif.; and Burbank, Calif.

John Green, marketing director for Casino Express, said Red Lion has developed a strategy to diversify its customer base among Elko residents, the northeastern Nevada region and gamblers arriving on the 122-seat jets. Casino Express also is attempting to develop corporate business for the two gold mining companies that operate in Elko, Barrick and Newmont.

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