After months of planning and preparing Frontier Airlines is officially the newest addition to the Sioux Falls Regional Airport.
The first flight was scheduled to take off around 6:30 p.m. Monday but the plane was delayed from Denver so passengers didn't officially get into the air until an hour-and-a-half later.
But those passengers on that first full flight tell us they saved a whole lot of money.
However, depending on your future travels those rates might not be sticking around.
Checking in to catch the very first Frontier flight Beth Shaw is flying with her two grandchildren to Denver Monday night.
"With my son living in Denver this Frontier coming here will make an amazing difference," Shaw said.
The Sioux Falls native isn't a stranger to flying with the airline and when she does she has no choice but to drive to Omaha -- until now.
"It's a 2 hour 45 minute drive but the rates were exceptionally cheaper so it was worth it," Shaw said.
Beth paid just $140 roundtrip for the ticket.
And that price and other low Frontier fares could help slash ticket prices here.
But we wonder how long those low prices will stick around.
On Frontier's web site they're offering flights as low as $74 one-way out of Sioux Falls but for these deals you would need to book by midnight tonight.
So what about future flights? We compared three airlines.
Traveling the first week in August, a flight from Sioux Falls to Denver on Frontier is $315.30
On United, it's coming in lower at $285.30 and on American, $478.30.
We also looked at travel from Sioux Falls to Seattle. On Frontier it will cost you $490.29
On United, it's actually lower at $436.30
And on American, $766.30.
So while Frontier sits right in the middle with pricing, this kind of competition could bring down the cost of flying.
"I do shop around. I try all the travel sites and compare all the rates and the fees and the baggage," Shaw said.
But for the grandma who is sick of driving to Omaha she thinks the airline coming here will only be positive for our community.
"We've been waiting for this. We heard about it in the Spring and I've been watching," Shaw said.
Beth looked at Fall travel to Denver with Frontier and says the prices are still low.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at the airport Tuesday to celebrate the grand opening.
