A daily nonstop flight from Redmond to Phoenix could be a reality as soon as June, but not without money from the Central Oregon community.

At the monthly Bend Economic Development Advisory Board meeting on Tuesday, Roger Lee, executive director of Economic Development for Central Oregon, proposed that the advisory board invest $30,000 over two years to help attract the flight to Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.

Lee said Phoenix — the sixth-largest city in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau — was the most visited destination from Central Oregon not currently served by nonstop air service. Tim Casey, executive director of the Bend Chamber of Commerce and an advisory board member, said adding a seventh direct flight into Redmond opens up new connections for business travelers.

“To get another destination like Phoenix is akin to adding another road into Central Oregon,” Casey said.

In September, Redmond Airport secured a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Small Community Air Service Development Program, a federal program designed to help smaller airports attract flights. As part of the arrangement, the Central Oregon Air Service Team, a volunteer group of business advocates assembled to attract flights to the region, agreed to raise $100,000 from the local community as a revenue guarantee. Lee, a member of the air service team, said this is standard operating procedure to bring air service to Central Oregon. In 2013, the Central Oregon community raised $350,000 in prepaid tickets as a requirement to attract a daily flight from Redmond to Los Angeles International Airport, according to The Bulletin’s archives.

The airline that would provide service to Phoenix, which Lee would not identify, had initially given the impression that flights would not begin until 2017. However, Lee said he heard last week that the airline could be prepared to begin flights as soon as summer.

“We expected a little more notice,” Lee said.

Lee said airlines typically require a window of 90 days before flights begin to attract bookings, meaning that the airline would have to sign an agreement with Redmond Airport by March. Lee said he hoped to get the funding for the flight in place within the next two weeks.

Casey said the advisory board would be working with other cities and counties in the region to make up the rest of the money. Lee said EDCO will be targeting a limited number of businesses that will be directly impacted by a flight to Phoenix, rather than seeking money from the community overall.

Redmond has offered direct flights to Arizona in the past. In 2008, Allegiant airline began offering twice-weekly flights from Redmond to Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. However, the flights were canceled in 2012, according to The Bulletin’s archives. Allegiant does not offer flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

This time around, the flight will be accompanied by a significant marketing push.

Alana Hughson, president and CEO of Central Oregon Visitors Association, said Monday that the association is developing a tourism campaign that would target greater Phoenix, if the flight is added. Hughson said Phoenix had “converse seasonality” with Central Oregon, as tourists are looking to travel to cooler climates during the area’s hot summers.

“Phoenix has a certain amount of synergy,” Hughson said.

— Reporter: 4541-617-7818, shamway@bendbulletin.com