Originally published in 1996
Conquest Airlines now provides direct air service from Mathis Field to Austin and Abilene.
San Angelo residents have also gained quick connections available to San Antonio, Laredo, Tyler, Beaumont, Corpus Christi and McAllen.
Conquest is focusing its business plan on expanding its Austin hub. ”We need an airline that goes to Austin and that’s where they (Conquest) are going,” Airport Manager John Schwab said, praising the airline’s addition to Mathis Field. The airline will offer two direct flights a day from San Angelo to Austin, and two other San Angelo-to-Austin flights a day with a stop in Abilene. Schwab said, “The schedule will allow San Angeloans to leave for Austin early in the morning and return at the end of the workday.”
Conquest provided flights from San Angelo to Austin once before, but quit service in August 1991 because it wasn’t making enough money. Shortly thereafter, Continental Express, which provided flights to Houston, also quit service. Schwab predicted that without the competition from Continental Express, Conquest would do well in San Angelo this time around.