STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

A new chapter in air traffic to and from Sun Valley will be opened on Saturday when the new United Airlines nonstop flight from the Windy City of Chicago lands at Friedman Memorial Airport.

The public is invited to take part in the ribbon cutting and refreshments welcoming the flight, which is scheduled to arrive at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23.

Passengers and crew will also receive welcome bags filled with coupons and other goodies from local merchants.

The new United Airlines flight from Chicago’s O’Hare airport (ORD) will run weekly on Saturdays for the winter season, with a break in service during January and early February. Flight dates are Dec. 23 and 30, Jan. 6, Feb. 17 and 24 and March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.

The aircraft being used is a 76-seat E175 regional jet.

The flight departs ORD at 8:55 a.m. and arrives at SUN at 11:50 a.m. It departs SUN at 12:30 p.m., arriving at ORD at 4:50 p.m.

Fly Sun Valley Alliance, Sun Valley Resort and Friedman Memorial Airport partnered to secure the new service, which is the seventh nonstop flight in the Sun Valley Market. Nonstop flights also originate in San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle and Los Angeles.

Fly Sun Valley Alliance, Friedman Memorial Airport, Sun Valley Resort, Visit Sun Valley and The Chamber are hosting Saturday’s celebration.

To book a flight on the new ORD-SUN route, go to www.united.com. See the full winter flight schedule at www.flysunvalleyalliance.com.