A passenger plane takes off from the airport in San Luis Obispo on June 15. (Business Times file photo)

Just in time for the holidays, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport announced that United Airlines had added a second daily flight to Denver.

The new flight follows a major upgrade for the airport. A $40 million new terminal opened in October, adding 56,000 square feet that include a new ticketing lobby, baggage claim carousel, courtyard and gate area, among other installations.

“The airport team and its partners continue to work hard to get the word out about flight options and the positive impact that air service has on the region,” Director of Airports Kevin Bumen said in a news release. “The announcement of this new frequency to Denver, paired with the recent opening of the airport terminal, positions us to enter into the new year fully prepared to serve our region’s air service needs.”

The new, nonstop flight will launch on April 9, 2018, operated by SkyWest Airlines.

“United Airlines is looking forward to connecting more customers to California’s Central Coast,” said Anthony Toth, United’s managing director of sales. “Our additional service offers customers traveling for both business and leisure another convenient choice to get to San Luis Obispo from the Rocky Mountain region and beyond via United’s hub in Denver.”

The airport introduced service to Denver last June, making it the third United Airlines flight out of the airport, joining Los Angeles and San Francisco.

— Contact Marissa Nall at mnall@pacbiztimes.com