PIERRE — Flying from Pierre to Minneapolis is set to get a little easier and quicker.

Effective April 6, Delta will provide nonstop flights to Minneapolis twice a day at 6:35 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.

“It’s so exciting,” said Mayor Laurie Gill. “This really is allowing us to have great connections to Minneapolis.”

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In the past, the city has made public its desire to bring in more airlines and improve connection times in Minneapolis through Mesaba air link. The same planes, 32-seat Saab 340 turbo-props, will serve the airport but not stop in Watertown as they have done recently.

“There are many people who prefer not to go through other communities and the timing of the schedules was very important to some people,” Gill said.

“This schedule will be one way we can improve the service in and out of Pierre. My message to the community is before you fly anywhere please check the Pierre regional airport first.”

The airlines — Mesaba and Great Lakes — have used nonstop flights to Pierre during pheasant hunting season. But Gill said this is the first time in memory she recalls such service during other times of the year.

“We’ve learned in the airline industry having a relationship with the airlines is very important,” the mayor said.

“We’ve been working on that since our current airport manager, Mike Isaacs, has been here. He’s made that a priority to continue to let them know we’re here and what our concerns and needs are. I think that relationship has definitely played into this.”

Tickets for nonstop flights to Minneapolis will be available Feb. 6. Great Lakes, which serves United, offers nonstop flights to Denver.

Gill said it’s uncertain how long the nonstop Delta connection flights will be offered.

“They’re going to take a look at this,” she said. “They’re going to see if we’re using it and if it’s making a difference in the passenger numbers. I won’t make any determination on how long this will be in place.”

Susan Elliott, with Delta, said the move is intended to make flying easier for Pierre passengers. She said Watertown also will have twice daily nonstop flights to Minneapolis.

“This is Delta wanting to offer added convenience for our customers in Pierre,” Elliott said. “We’ll continue to offer that convenience as long as demand levels remain.”

In 2009, Pierre’s airport passenger numbers hit a five-year low.

“I don’t think the enplanements had any decision on it,” Isaacs said. “They make enough profit that they can justify having a direct flight. That’s great news considering we did have low numbers.

“The whole region suffered a 10 percent loss in enplanement numbers. I think airlines are getting aggressive and looking for markets where they can capitalize more profits.”