Years of hard work have finally paid off for the Quad City Airport and local business leaders. Over the weekend, United Express began daily, non-stop round trips from here to Washington DC, and Dulles International Airport.
Monday morning, the airport held a send-off celebration before the scheduled departure at 8:20 am, including a water cannon salute as the plane left the gate.
Local leaders have been trying to get this service to help the Rock Island Arsenal, but also to help travelers from this area access a major hub on the east coast. An estimated 10,000 people per year now travel between the Quad Cities and Washington DC.
The new, non-stop service is made possible by funding from federal, state, and local business contributions.